[AndyArch]

Hi,

I am growing some tomatoes in my Polytunnel, 2 each of Harbinger, MoneyMaker, Golden Sunrise and Gardeners Delight. They are doing ok anf currently stand at about 1m high, they have some flowers but are getting quite bushy, is it ok to pinch out some of the non fruiting stems to thin out the plant.

I have pinched out the side shoots already.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

Are you saying your plants are too close together, or they have more than one stem?

If you have taken all the side shoots out, each plant should only have one main stem with the fruit trusses coming off it.

[mumofstig]

Yes, like Grannie says you should have only one stem tied to the cane - but you can remove some bottom foliage if you already have trusses of tomatoes ready to ripen. Like this -

[shokkyy]

Funny how some varieties are more likely to have multiple stems than others, always wondered why that is. I think every single San Marzano I've ever grown has always thrown off at least one extra stem right from the base.

[Goosegirl]

Given the lack of sun, I would select the non-fruiting stems so leaving ones with flowers on that will still have time to produce useable fruit.

[GrannieAnnie]

Our friend in the village only grows a few tomatoes in his little greenhouse, but he never takes off the side shoots, he can't remember what variety they are as he has saved his own seeds over many years.

But they do look a shambles, and not easy to get amongst them.  He looked at my polytunnel ones and said oooh aren't they nice and tidy.

But he still reckons he gets a goodly amount of tomatoes off them, and he is happy with them, so who I am to say he's doing wrong?

But the last time I didn't take care of my cordon toms, I had a lot of problems, blight, mould etc.