Pinching tomatoes

Pinching is the process of removing the top of the plant above the top leaf using small scissors or fingers. The purpose of pinching is to redirect energy to flowering and fruit formation.

Pinching tomatoes is carried out for faster ripening of the fruit, since without this method, tomatoes can remain green for a long time.

Pinching can be done on cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, melons, etc. Pinching tomatoes is done on tall varieties so that the fruits ripen before the cold weather. Tomatoes should be formed into one stem, leaving seven or eight flower clusters. They also leave 1 or 2 stepsons to get an additional harvest. All other stepsons at the roots and from the axils of the leaves are removed.

It is better to choose the morning time, then the stepsons break off more easily. To prevent viral infection of other plants, the stepsons are not cut off, but broken off to the side. Leaves at the very roots and soil, unnecessary stepsons must be removed to prevent various diseases of tomatoes. You need to make sure that the stem at the root is dry, that light gets there, and that there is air circulation.

Tomato fruits develop on flower stems that grow between nodes from the main stem. You cannot cut them off, as they produce tomatoes. It is necessary to preserve the emerging tomato flowers. New shoots growing in the internodes, as well as old leaves, are removed.

Proper care of tomatoes will bring you juicy and tasty fruits. A good harvest is an indicator of a real and experienced gardener.Pinching is one of the most common ways to care for tomatoes.