How to pinch tomatoes in the open field
The most popular crop, after potatoes, is tomatoes. All summer residents strive to increase the yield of their plants. For most varieties, additional stimulation in the form of pinching is required. Many beginner gardeners ask the question of how to pinch tomatoes in the open field and why it is needed.
Rules for pinching tomatoes in the open field
The essence of the procedure and what is it for
Grazing tomatoes in open ground or in a greenhouse is not necessary for all varieties. Some varieties can grow in natural open field conditions without additional stimulation and give a large yield, but in most cases stimulation is still needed. Tomato grazing in the open field is the removal of additional shoots that slow down the growth of the plant.
Most of the small lateral shoots do not bear fruit, but only take up nutrients and energy, as a result of which the fruits are subsequently smaller, and the yield is significantly reduced. Plus, pinching is a good prevention against late blight and other viral diseases. The shoots should be 3-5 cm, if they are larger, it is no longer worth removing them, otherwise you can infect or damage the stem.
In open field conditions, pinching allows you to save useful substances that the plant receives from the soil. So the bush will not waste its energy on maintaining unnecessary shoots, and the ovaries will fully develop. Experienced gardeners recommend manual pinching by pinching off the shoots with your fingers to reduce the risk of infection with tools. For the same reason, plants should be watered only a couple of days after the manipulation, during which time the damaged area will be tightened.
Shoot removal rules
It is important not just to pinch off excess shoots, but to do it correctly and within a certain time frame. To correctly pinch tomatoes, you must not miss the moment of forming the brushes. All ovaries that grow below the inflorescence should be removed. Those that are above the inflorescence are left.
In order to prevent the spread of infection, you need to make sure that the juice does not fall on your hands, because it is through it that fungal spores are transmitted. When pinching, the lowest leaves are also removed. Before removing, you need to make sure that the trunks are dry and well lit by the sun. Plants can be watered only two days after the manipulation. Types of pinching:
- scheme in 1 escape;
- scheme in 2 or more shoots.
It is correct to carry out manipulations to remove sprouts every 7-10 days. However, this does not mean that everything needs to be done within this time frame. In many ways, the timing of pinching will depend on the weather. If the weather is rainy for several days, you will have to postpone pinching until the bushes and soil are dry.This, in our own words, is the difficulty of growing tomato crops in open ground, because in a greenhouse you can pinch tomatoes at a convenient time for the gardener.
It is correct to pinch off the sprouts when they are still small, when they have not reached 5 cm; larger stems, when cut off, leave large open areas on the main sprout, which can cause infection. If you do not fulfill all the requirements, then the shoots will begin to be laid through each leaf. In this case, the summer resident will receive a branchy green bush with a small number of ovaries.
Removal of extra sprouts for determinate crop varieties
It is imperative to graze determinant tomatoes in the open field. It is typical for these tomatoes to stop growing on their own and branch weakly. In order for the plant to grow correctly, you need to have time to carry out the pinching procedure before the first buds appear. The bushes are mainly single-stemmed, rarely with a double stem. There is no need to pinch the top. This will allow you to get tomatoes from several inflorescences at a time.
The fewer leaves on the bush, the better and larger the fruits will be. Low-growing bushes very often throw out a lot of inflorescences, and the stems branch out. If you do not carry out pinching, then the crop appears much later. When the first ovary ripens, the tillering process stops, but at the same time the development of the rest of the fruits stops. The fact is that the plant must send many minerals of the same type to several points, and naturally, the more developed fruits will take them first, as a result, many small fruits will be obtained.
Growth limitation of determinant tomatoes occurs when 3-4 branches appear. After that, the sprouts continue to grow. The initial brush appears above the 6-8 leaves. The following brushes will be located every 2 leaves or may generally go in a row.
How to do it right
It is better to carry out the procedure in dry and warm weather.
The scheme of crown formation of a determinant tomato variety:
- the execution of pinching in open ground begins before the appearance of the first buds, after the formation of 6 leaves, while tying a bush;
- it is necessary to carry out the manipulation only in dry warm weather;
- when pinching off large shoots of 5 cm, it is better to leave a stump (large damage on the main stem can lead to the appearance of gray rot);
- wear rubber gloves before removal.
In one crown, the tomato should be formed until 3-4 brushes appear, then, having chosen the strongest stepson, they begin to form the second. After a couple of inflorescences, you can also form a third. Everything will depend on weather conditions. In the cool climate of the Moscow region, for example, only 1 crown should be left so that the crop has time to ripen by the end of July.
Crown formation on indeterminate bushes
Tomato varieties with unlimited growth should also be pinned. Unlike determinant ones, their growth does not stop on its own, so you have to remove the top. The number of left stepchildren will directly depend on the weather. The longer the warm weather stays, the more crowns you can form.
Without pinching, indeterminate varieties will not produce a lot of tomatoes. They bush too quickly, so they need to be pinned constantly. Branches grow in all interleaf spaces. Omitted, large stepchildren take a lot of minerals into themselves, which leads to a decrease in the quantity and quality of tomatoes, sometimes even affects the taste.
How is
Scheme of pinching indeterminate tomatoes:
- pluck all the stepsons before the first buds appear: at this stage, there should be 6-8 leaves on the bush;
- tie up all the plants;
- after three inflorescences, a 2nd stem can be formed;
- after another 2 inflorescences, the third powerful process is formed.
Basically, only 1 branch is left for indeterminate tomato varieties.You can get a lot more tomatoes from one crown than from 2-3. The formation of 2 or more stems implies leaving the same number of stepchildren. Over time, they develop into additional stems. All other stepsons should be removed. In open ground, pinching of indeterminate varieties consists in limiting the growth of the main stem.
Summarizing information
How to pinch tomatoes in an open field? This issue is controversial. Grazing is a very important procedure for increasing yields. Only some varieties can give a normal harvest without pinching. It is recommended to carry out the procedure before the first inflorescences appear.
The pinching patterns for indeterminate and determinate varieties are slightly different. For plants with unlimited growth, the procedure consists of pinching the growing point. It is also recommended for them to use a single stem formation scheme, so it will turn out to significantly increase the yield. For determinant varieties, it is recommended to choose a 2-stem formation scheme.
Tomatoes grow quickly if all leaves are removed from the bottom of the plant during the ripening period. At the stage of the appearance of the first ovaries, it is recommended to gradually remove the leaves around them. For the full development of the fruit, 8-10 leaves are enough. It is important to remember that it is impossible to remove more than 2-3 stepchildren in 1 day, it is better to postpone the procedure and carry it out after 7-10 days.
Also, do not forget about the precautions during the formation of the crown:
- gloves should be on the hands;
- you need to make sure that the juice does not fall on your hands;
- you can not cut off the sprouts with metal objects;
- if the sprouts are too thick, it is advisable to leave a stump of at least 1mm.
All these rules must be followed so as not to infect. All manipulations should be carried out in dry warm weather. Do not neglect the grazing, otherwise the sprouts will form through one leaf and then you will just have a large ornamental bush, and the tomatoes will never appear.