If you want to grow tomatoes, you need to figure out how to prune the tomatoes in advance. This is done so that fewer ovaries form on the bushes and all the fruits have time to ripen before the end of the season. In this article, you will learn all the intricacies of pinching tomatoes.
How to properly trim the leaves of tomatoes?
Excessive growth of bushes takes away the vitality of the plant, interferes with air circulation and the penetration of sunlight. This will not only slow down ripening, but can also lead to plant diseases that are provoked by excessive moisture. Therefore, pruning the bushes is the most important stage in growing tomatoes.
The first stage of pruning is carried out when planting seedlings. By the way, it is recommended to remove 1/3 of the root when planting. So the root system will begin to actively grow in breadth and the plant will be more stable in the soil.
Next, the lower leaves are removed. Now the stem will be open to the sun, photosynthesis will be more active. Free air circulation will prevent diseases caused by excessive humidity.
As soon as the first brush of flowers appears, remove all the leaves below it. The stem on which it has grown is the main one. All new processes that appear in the axils of the leaves extending from the main stem must be removed.
Young shoots are recommended not to be cut, but broken off. It is believed that when pinching with a metal tool, an infection can be introduced, then the plant will die. To prevent a new one from growing at the site of the remote shoot, you need to leave a small stump (up to 1 cm). It is necessary to carry out pinching with young pliable shoots, do not wait for them to grow. It is recommended to do this procedure early in the morning. You need to repeat it as new shoots appear.
If the remaining leaves on the bushes have grown, they must also be cut off. Remove the ones that overlap and create shadow. For fruit nutrition, 2-3 leaves directly above the brush are important. Large fruits provide themselves with nutrients for ripening at all through photosynthesis. Therefore, the rest of the leaves in the middle of the bush can be safely removed so that it receives enough light.
Watch the video on how to properly cut tomatoes, professional agronomists will tell you all the details.
Pay attention to the variety of tomatoes: if you have purchased special low-growing bushes, you do not need to cut them. Only tall varieties are grown-ups.
By cutting off tomato bushes in time, you will reap a bountiful and tasty harvest.