How I Prune the Tomato Sideshoots for Maximum Yield

[@myrustygarden]

Oh I didn’t know that about the scissors thank you 🙏. Always good to learn something new and I’ve popped a few in water and a few direct in the ground. On a totally different topic speaking of smells, in school (the dark ages) I used to love the smell of the old copy machine (crank handled) paper prints 😂 Have a fantastic week Steveo hope Layla is feeling better, Ali 🌥️🇨🇦

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

The duplicator! We were still using them in the Navy when I left in 1997 but I guess technology has moved on since then LOL Have a great week Ali

[@UrbanWhiteBuffaloFarm]

I remember the mimeograph machine with the blue ink. Some teachers would send students to go make copies if they ran out.

[@myrustygarden]

@@UrbanWhiteBuffaloFarm I loved the smell 😜😜

[@BrainStormAcres]

We always have mixed feelings about removing healthy vegetation from tomatoes. Never knew that smooth cuts heal more slowly. New information! A win! Take care.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Side shooting the plants can reduce the number of tomatoes but at the same time make them bigger but it also opens the plant up a bit to allow decent airflow.

[@bethanskitchengarden]

I really enjoy sideshooting tomatoes, it's one of the jobs I enjoy the most in the garden. Your tomato plants are looking very strong and healthy. Take care 😊

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Yes, mine do seem to like the damp on their roots from the wicking system. Have a great week Bethan.

[@glawsgal]

I love the smell when snapping or pinching out side shoots, makes my mouth water for yummy toms 😃 Happy growing and stay cool 🤗

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

So good, yes! Back in the day with my Dad, I hated the smell. Maybe something that grows with us LOL

[@PointofimpactTV]

Excellent video Diggy

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Thank you kindly. Have a great week!

[@ann-zj9vn]

Thank you for the reminder on this Steve . I will do mine in the morning 😊.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

You are so welcome👍In the video I did forget to mention to only do this with vine tomatoes, D'Oh!

[@billvalsallotments5915]

Hi steve some good advice there and demonstration, and some wonderful name of tomatoes you are a one for all the different tomatoes.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Chhers guys. I just hope the all ripen close enough together for a decent taste test vised LOL Have a great weekend!

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Steve, im playing catch up on my favourite KZbinrs, been busy on my plot 😉 great tip on how to cut/snap the suckers off, I didnt know that Steve & thanks for the tip 👍 great video and thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Grr, suckers! Suckers grow from roots, sideshoots grow from stems LOL Any plant that produces sap to heal will benefit from a messy cut. I know what you mean about playing catch up. Such hard work now that YT has changed the way that the present new videos to you! Habe a great week! 🙂

[@leewozzashomeveggiegarden]

Nice informative video Steve cheers

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Glad you enjoyed it, Lee. Cheers

[@Beeplot79]

Thank you really helpful I seem to get this wrong every year and end up not knowing what is a side shoot and what is main stem

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

The easiest way to remember (for me anyway) is flower stems grow off the main stem so leave well alone. Sideshoots grow out of a leaf axel so pinch these out after tying in the main stem. And don't touch bush or hanging tomatoes at all - let them get on with it LOL

[@HortiHugo]

Great advice on sterilising our tools, do a good deal of that here. All the best Steve, Hugh

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Cheers Hugh, have a great week buddy!

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Nice tips Steve, i normally pinch or snap.👍🏻🤠💗🙏

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

You and me both! Unless I forget and cut in the afternoon LOL

[@Nicktgrief]

Tomatoes always brought my mum out in a rash sod Dad always planted one right by the door of the greenhouse 🤣

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Brilliant, a man after my own heart LOL

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Can't believe people call them suckers Steve, it's clearly an armpit according to my Bride 😂😂😂 You're Marboone is 3x the size and looks fantastic compared to ours but we have faith !!! Seriously good tips!! Cheers J&C 🌱👍

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

The Marbonne is going wild. I've decided to leave all 3 leaders on it as they all have flowers but maybe I will stop them all, at say, 3 trusses each. We'll see. Thanks again guys, can't wait to taste them!

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

@@DigwellGreenfingers 🤞🤞🤞

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

Very much like I do it. Once they get about 3.5 ft tall, I will allow a 2nd stem to grow for the ones on the cattle panel.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

I am (hope to) trying that on a few this year. The normal advice here is not to, as we are one of the few countries that prune hard. May be time for a change to match the weather?

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

@@DigwellGreenfingers That is understandable. Your weather is typically cooler than mine but I think this year is running hot for you. (my normal summer would be 24 to 32 C) For me, once the plants get a little over a meter tall, I can let them bush out a bit. I can pick the tomatoes off without having to bend over to do it. 😀 Have a good weekend Steve.

[@CoastalGardensNW]

A few nice tips there Steve a few plants that don't like clean cuts mainly ones that produce a sap or sugars/rosin to heal, great video

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Cheers Duncan. Weird isn't it? It seems to go against all we learned LOL

[@CoastalGardensNW]

@@DigwellGreenfingers it is Steve it's the same as stressing a plant can make it produce more too

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

@@CoastalGardensNW I do that with chillies by letting them dry out a bit

[@robsallotmentchannel9942]

Hi Steve 👋👋👋👋👋 That was a very informative video and very clear to understand. I have always either snapped the side chutes or cut with a small pair of pruning snips. Did not know about the healing process, just of to that well known company to order some Anvil Secators. 👍👍👍🍅🍅🍅

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

I shudder watching others using scissors and then wondering why the vine gets diseased - the more sap that gets released the quicker toms heal over.

[@fletchybabe6172]

Missed one @6mins18secs on the left exactly halfway up the screen 😂🤣😂🤣😉🌱☀️

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Hahaha I always go round twice LOL I have one with 3 leaders all from the same node so I am letting them all grow. Will there be more toms or less?

[@UrbanWhiteBuffaloFarm]

One of my favorite tomatoes is an F1So I buy 2 of them very early in the season. So far I have taken 6 sucker/side shoots from them and put them all in a cup of water and they are rooting well now. 5-6 more days I will plant them out thus having 6 of the F1 plants for the cost of 2. These plants were $5.98 USD times 2 is $12. Since I have 6 now they are only $2 each. Also when propagated this way you have an exact duplicate of the DNA as well as any disease fighting characteristics. Quick question you were showing morning evening and afternoon snapping. The afternoon did not snap just bend so you cut it. Did I see you push a thumbnail into the cut to disrupt it making it want to heal itself faster??

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

That makes a lot of sense especially with F1 seeds being so expensive. Yes, I did try to use my thumbnail but the skin was a bit too hard. Not something I would normally do as I prefer to snap than cut but I thought I'd give it a go LOL

[@jasons-jungle]

Those toms possibly realised you were snapping off the side shoots and went limp in response.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Haha nice one - scardy cats!

[@ronaldandsusanshaws-growing]

👍👍👍

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Cheers Ron

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

you have at least 3 days growth on those side shoots, steve. hark at this nutter who found some on his own plants the same size. as long as the plants have recently been watered, the plant is turgid and they should all just snap off.....................brian

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Not too bad for me Brian as all of mine are in wicking hydroponics so wettish all the time 🙂 If I did not have some many growing this year then I would pot a few cuttings up. They never do as well as the parents but still give a few toms!

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

@@DigwellGreenfingers i think 2 trusses are enough from cuttings, but they are tomatos for free.............brian

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

@@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172 Good advice Brian, I never really thought of it like that!