Formation of tomatoes

When you read articles about stepping tomatoes, it seems that they are written in Chinese. Here, for example: “determinant tomatoes form with the transfer of the growth point to the lateral shoot.” The letters seem to be , but the meaning is almost impossible to catch. No, a specialist, of course, will immediately understand what it is about, but ordinary summer residents are at a loss. What to do with tomatoes? And what kind of animals are these – “determinants”?

Differences in tomato varieties by type of growth

But first, after all, the terms, because without them you can’t get anywhere in modern gardening – they are indicated on bags with seeds, and the formation of tomatoes primarily depends on the variety belonging to a particular group.

Indeterminant tomatoes

These tomatoes have unlimited growth and are highly branched (1). The first fruit cluster is laid high, above 10-12 leaves. It takes a long time before the bush gains the required height. And then it will bloom. Inflorescences are rarely arranged, through 3 leaves.

This group includes the latest varieties. These varieties are capable of producing the largest yields. But in the middle lane they can only be grown in greenhouses. And it needs to be shaped.

Determinantant tomatoes

Determinate – medium-sized tomatoes with limited growth (1), such varieties appeared in the 80s, and now there are most of them. They reach a height of 80 – 120 cm, after laying 3 – 6 inflorescences, their growth stops. The first flower brush is laid over the 8th – 9th leaf. Fruit brushes are located through 1 – 2 leaves. And in terms of maturity, they are mid-season.

super determinant tomatoes

These tomatoes are the shortest and earliest. But they have low productivity. The plant forms only 3 inflorescences on one shoot.

Formation of tomatoes in the greenhouse

1 stem

Indeterminate tomatoes. They, regardless of the place of cultivation, are always formed into one stem and nothing else. It makes no sense to leave side shoots – by the time they bloom, the summer will already be over. You still won’t wait for the fruits from them, but the plant will spend its strength.

The main difference in the formation of such varieties is the number of fruit clusters.

In the greenhouse, such tomatoes are formed into 7 brushes (Fig. 1.1). You should not leave more – they will not have time to ripen. And one more important detail: 1 leaf must be left above the seventh inflorescence, above which the top is cut so that the bush stops growing and directs all its forces to the ripening of the crop.

In 3 stalks

Superdeterminant tomatoes. It makes no sense to remove all stepchildren (side shoots) of these tomatoes, since only 3 fruit brushes are formed on one shoot. And this, you see, will not be enough. They may not be pinned at all. But in order to get the maximum yield of good quality, you still need to form bushes. The scheme in which 3 stems are left (Fig. 3.1) is ideal for greenhouses. Its essence is as follows: on the plant, in addition to the main shoot, 2 more lower stepchildren are left. In total, 3 stems are obtained. Each will have 3 fruit clusters – these varieties do not form more.

Determinate tomatoes. The formation of determinant tomatoes in 3 stalks (Fig. 2.2) is suitable for medium-late varieties. It is similar to the variant of the formation of superdeterminant tomatoes, but with its own nuances. At first, everything is the same: the main stem and the 2 lowest stepchildren are left. But here the side shoots must be shortened, leaving 1 flower brush on each, plus one leaf above it. As a result, we will get 8 inflorescences instead of 6 (the maximum that one shoot gives) – the greenhouse allows them to ripen. But you shouldn’t leave more fruit brushes – the tomatoes won’t ripen on them anyway.

With the transfer of the growth point to the lateral shoot

Determinate tomatoes. With the transfer of the growth point to the lateral shoot (Fig. 2.3). Here it is – the very option that confuses many summer residents. It is also intended for greenhouses, but for mid-early varieties and hybrids. Its essence is as follows: the main shoot is left on the plant, one of the lowest stepson, and then another stepson is left, but not on the main stem, but on the side. Why is that? Yes, because the growth of determinant tomatoes is limited – 6 brushes and that’s it. And the features of mid-early varieties allow you to get more yield. Therefore, you can go for a trick – the side shoot will give us a couple more brushes (we cut off above, leaving the leaf above the inflorescence), and the shoot from it – two more (we also cut it off, like the first one). So instead of 6 we have 10.

And here the question may arise: why do we need a second stepson from the first? Is it impossible, perhaps, to leave one side shoot – after all, it will also have 6 brushes? And then in general it will turn out 12! But not everything is so simple. The third brush on stepchildren gives fruits of poor quality. Therefore, we leave only 2. And in order to get 2 more high-quality inflorescences, you just need a stepson from a stepson.

Formation of tomatoes in open ground

Greenhouses exist in order to extend the warm season. But in the open field, the warm period is shorter, so fewer fruits are left on the tomatoes – so that everyone has time to ripen. And here, too, there are different options for the formation of tomatoes.

1 stem

Indeterminate tomatoes. Unlike a greenhouse, in the open field, only B 5 brushes (2) are left in such tomatoes (Fig. 1.2). Above the last brush – 1 sheet, then cut off the top.

Determinate tomatoes. Here the meaning is the same – the summer is short, cool, the fruits on the lateral shoots do not have time to ripen, so the stepsons must be removed, the plants form into 1 stem (Fig. 2.1). Leave only the main stem. The top is not cut off, since the growth of such tomatoes is limited. He doesn’t remove fruit brushes, they leave everything – there are still no more than 6 of them, and they all have time to ripen.

In 2 stalks

Superdeterminant tomatoes. The formation of these tomatoes in 2 stems (Fig. 3.2) is used in open ground. In this case, only 1 lowest stepson is left. Each shoot will form 3 flower brushes. As a result, the fruits will be smaller, but they grow larger.

And why can’t you leave 3 shoots in the open field, as they do in a greenhouse? The fact is that if the summer is short and possibly cool, the plant simply may not have enough warm days and the tomatoes on the 2 stepson will turn out to be some kind of “unfinished”. While the greenhouse allows you to extend the summer, and this extra time is enough for the ripening of additional tomatoes. Yes, it’s warmer there.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about the formation of tomatoes with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.

Sources of

1. Pantielev Ya.Kh. ABC vegetable grower // M .: Kolos, 1992 – 383 p.
2. Shuin K.A., Zakraevskaya N.K., Ippolitova N.Ya. Garden from spring to autumn // Minsk, Uradzhay, 1990 – 256 p.