[AlistairMcLennan]

Hi all,

I have attached a pic of my tomatoes, I am assuming that I have two growing heads due to one being a side shoot?

Do I snap off the one that is a side shoot even though its virtually the same height as the main stem?



Cheers

[JayG]

Not necessarily - it's a bit difficult to see from your picture whether the second shoot has grown from a side shoot or the main leader has divided into 2 (which has happened to more than one variety of mine this year.)

They both look very healthy so I'd be tempted to keep them both (suppporting as necessary.)

Bear in mind though that there are limits to the number of fruits the plant itself can support the setting and ripening of, so don't expect twice the number of toms from it!

[mumofstig]

It seems common this year ( or maybe you just forgot to pinch that side shoot out?)

another recent thread on the subject here
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=95970.msg1065997#msg1065997

[AlistairMcLennan]

Thanks Jay & Mum,

I have really been on top of removing the side shoots, so maybe it as you say about the main stem splitting.  I will keep my eyes on them.

I am grateful for any tomatoes :-)

[DoubleDigger]

I would take one growing tip out 'beneath' the next flower truss, leaving a couple of leaves.  The 'extra' leaves will help promote better quality fruit, as the selected "leader" carries on growing.  It doesn't really matter which shoot you 'snip' as long as you check to make sure one isn't "blind" ( ie. has no growing point), then continue to train as a 'cordon'. 

If you don't, you split the food/water supply & fruit tends to be smaller, & takes longer to swell & ripen.

It will be the main stem deciding to branch......worse when a plant suddenly becomes "blind" which is the other end of the scale !