They have already grown high and have produced numerous flowers and the first sets of fruit. Now the question arises as to whether the height of the cocktail tomatoes should be limited and whether the side shoots are too numerous. Does a cut make sense?
How are cocktail tomatoes cut correctly?
Cocktail tomatoes can be limited in height in late summer, with themain stemcut offat the tip. It also makes sense toremove the sidestinginessso that the cocktail tomatoes can invest more energy in their fruiting.
Why should cocktail tomatoes be cut?
Cocktail tomatoes should mainly be cut so that they can put morepowerinto theirflowering and fruiting. They can be limited in both height and width. In addition, it makes sense to remove diseased or wilted leaves in the event of illness or severe pest infestation. Hobby gardeners also like to use scissors when harvesting to cleanly separate entire clusters, as long as the cocktail tomatoes are all ripe.
When should cocktail tomatoes be limited in height?
TowardsEnd of August it is recommended to cut off the tip of the main shoot of the cocktail tomato. This prevents the main shoot from growing further in height. The tomato plant therefore has more energy for its existing flowers and fruits and can produce them better. Since cocktail tomatoes can reach a height of 150 to 200 cm from planting to mid-summer depending on the variety and location, you should decide for yourself at what height you want to limit them.
How do you properly cut side shoots of cocktail tomatoes?
It is advisable toshorten the side shoots if necessaryand so-calledstingy shootscompletelyremove Stingy shoots are located in the leaf axils and cause the cocktail tomato to grow wild and bushy. As a result, it produces many, but smaller, fruits and is more prone to breaking. To thin out the cocktail tomatoes, simply cut out the shoots or, if they are still very small, snap them off with your fingers. Although it is time-consuming, it should be done regularly.
When are the stalks of cocktail tomatoes cut?
TowardsEnd of July the first cocktail tomatoes are usually ripe and individual panicles with ripe fruits can be cut off. However, this is not possible with every variety. While the fruits of a panicle of some varieties ripen at the same time, with other varieties it is very delayed.
What should you pay attention to when cutting cocktail tomatoes?
When cutting these tomato plants, you should be careful not tonotcause too muchlarge injuries Large cuts are dangerous because they contain fungal pathogens and other evildoers have an easy time. As a precaution, it is therefore advisable to cut young shoots and not wait until they are very thick.
Which tool is ideal for cutting cocktail tomatoes?
To cut cocktail tomatoes you should use acleanandsharptool such as agardening shearsor aKnife can be used. It is important that you do not try to tear off the shoots with your hands. This can result in severe injuries and the plant suffering.
Tip
Cut off leaves close to the ground
The cocktail tomato is supposed to save energy? Then remove the lower leaves to a maximum height of 30 cm. This means that the tomato plant uses less energy and the risk of diseases also decreases, as the lower leaves are often wetted with irrigation water.
