What this procedure is
To pinch out – means to remove the top of the main stem in order to limit its growth in height. Together with removing the suckers (cutting off side shoots), this technique is simply essential for a good and timely harvest.
Why pinching out tomatoes is beneficial
Tomatoes have one peculiarity: depending on the variety, they can grow almost indefinitely upward and outward. By removing the excess greenery, we direct all of the plant's resources toward the very thing for which we plant it and tend it so carefully – the ripening of the fruit.
The main advantages of the procedure:
- Increases yield,
- Speeds up ripening (especially relevant for regions with short summers),
- Increases the size of the fruit and improves its flavor,
- Extends the fruiting period,
- Prevents diseases and the appearance of pests (thanks to better air circulation in the bushes).
How and when to pinch out
Cutting the stem incorrectly can lead to the plant wilting and even dying. That is why it is so important to approach this operation wisely. People begin pinching out tomatoes when the first flower clusters set, that is, when the period of active vegetative growth begins (in open ground this is usually late July – early August), and continue until the start of autumn. Greenhouse varieties have a longer ripening interval and can be pinched out right up until November. In all other respects, the pinching-out procedures in open beds and in a greenhouse do not differ from one another in any way.
The process itself is fairly simple: using sharp scissors or pruning shears, carefully cut off the top of the stem two leaves above the topmost cluster on which tomatoes have already set. For the bushes to handle the operation more easily and not fall ill afterward, several important rules must be followed:
- Carry out the pinching in the morning or evening on a dry, sunny day.
- Do not remove more than a quarter of the canopy's volume at a time.
- Use a clean tool and wash your hands thoroughly.
- Sprinkle the fresh cuts with powdered ash or cinder.
Tomatoes are constantly growing, so pinching out is necessary on a regular basis.
Which tomato varieties are suitable for pinching out
Pinching out is essential when growing hybrids and indeterminate (tall) tomato varieties, since they are capable of growing endlessly in height. Their tops grow new leaves and flower clusters again and again, on whose development the tomato directs the lion's share of its nutrients. If the plant is not stopped in time, by the end of the season we risk ending up with a lot of small, underripe tomatoes.
Usually, when pinching out tall tomatoes, 7-8 clusters with formed fruit sets are left. Determinate (medium-height) and standard (low-growing) varieties do not have to be pruned: their growth is already genetically limited, but the excess side shoots on them do need to be removed.
Should seedlings be pinched out
Yes, seedlings can be pinched out in order to keep tomatoes from growing upward at the early stage and to strengthen the young plant's root. Once a little bush has more than 4 true leaves and has grown strong enough, you may remove everything above that point. On seedlings this is conveniently done with your own fingernails.
