How to pinch and pinch tomatoes

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On how the tomato bush is formed, depends directly on its crop, the quality of the fruit and the rate of ripening. Many have heard about the need to pinch and pinch tomatoes - what its essence and rules are about, what result it gives and will be discussed further.

Why pinch tomatoes

If we talk about what pinching is, it is not the removal of lateral shoots, as when staving, namely, the top of a fruit-bearing plant. Scientifically speaking - Tomatoes remove growth point, which performs a lot of functions, but in our case it is necessary for:

1. Improve crop quality.
2. Reducing the natural time of ripening on the bush and prolonging the fruiting period.
3. Improving the power of the bush and its light.

When to pinch tomatoes

They pinch tomatoes regularly, starting from the active growing season - this is usually the end of July and the beginning of August, when the high shrubs are removed from the top of the bush.

How to do it correctly - process description

The procedure for pinching the tops is similar to that carried out with a bush of grapes and other fruit trees. Each manipulation is performed so that all the nutrients in the plant further feed it, after the ovary.In this case, stands with sharp scissors or shears cut off the very top of the stem 2 leaves above the end of a tomato brush with already tied fruits.

Also, experts, experienced gardeners are advised to pinch high varieties of tomatoes, forming the bush itself in one stem, leaving no more than 7-8 brushes with ovary. Agronomists are advised to leave at the root no more than 2 stepchildren, and remove all others.

To carry out the manipulation, you should choose the morning hours, or spend it after sunset, and place the cutoff with ashes or ashes. If carried out correctly, the plant will give a rich harvest, but if everything is done incorrectly, the vegetable will die.

What is the difference between pinching and pinching

If we talk about what constitutes a staving - in this case goes removal of the so-called stepson, lateral shoot on the tomato bush itself, which is formed in the very bosom of the rosette of leaves.

It is they who pull all the juices from the fruit away from themselves and make the bush weaker, the harvest and the fruits smaller. In addition, it is worth remembering - too overgrown bush is more susceptible to late blight,especially if tomatoes are grown in greenhouse conditions.

If we talk about pinching - removal of the upper point of growth. This procedure is most often practiced in respect of high varieties of tomato, thereby achieving a better harvest.

The differences in pinching tomatoes in the greenhouse and in the open field

If we talk about the differences in relation to the removal of the growth point in a tomato grown in a greenhouse and in open ground, the agronomists do not make a difference in it.

If we talk about pinching in the open field - it is carried out one month before full maturity fruits on the bush, usually the end of July and the beginning of August.

If the vegetable is grown in a greenhouse, then the time will be great, since the growth and ripening of the fruit is increased and, accordingly, the time can be set independently. Some pinch in the greenhouse in September, October and even the month of November - much determines, as noted earlier, the climate and even the variety.

Is it possible to pinch the top and seedlings and why

Experienced gardeners say that it is not just possible, but even necessary, especially for tall varieties. If you do not remove the top - lead to a lot of substandard fruit. The purpose of the pinching itself is to slow down the growth of the bush and let the fruits absorb all the power, ripen in time in a natural way.

Particular attention should be allocated and holding pinching on the seedlings - most often it is practiced to obtain a more dense bush and activate the formation of the root system at the very shoot.

Process technology

The method of pinching depends on the variety, but in practice agronomists distinguish 3 ways by which the stem itself, the tomato bush, is formed.

1. Formation in 1 stalk - it is practiced for the tall variety and practicing nip in this variant is worth the whole summer.
2. Formation in 2 stalks - in this case, the uppermost stepson is left on a par with the main stem. This allows you to get a larger crop, but at the same time the tomato ripening process is somewhat slowed down and they may not mature before the first ground frost.
3. Shrub formation in 3 stalks - in this case, the 2 strongest stepsons are left under the color brush. This method of pinching should be practiced for early varieties, so that they have time to mature in their natural ripening period.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the undoubted advantages of pinching agronomists distinguish such moments:

1. Plant growth, as well as its development is accelerated at times.
2. Get more quality crop, tomato fruits.
3. After the addition of the pinching, the fruits are larger, and the care of the tomatoes is simplified.

Among the drawbacks, it is worth highlighting the fact that an improperly carried out procedure of pinching may cause premature wilting and death of the plant.

Summarizing, we can conclude that pinching is an important component in the care of tomatoes, especially those related to tall varieties. But it is she who helps to get a higher yield of high quality.