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Growing Tomatoes

Pinch back early tomato flowers? (yes or no)

13 years ago

Hi,

I just transplanted some determinate tomatoes into a hanging basket, which have about 12-15 open flowers per plant. The plants are about 10" overall, and the variety (Tumbling Tom) is supposed to hang down as much as 24". Should I pinch back the first open flowers? I'm worried that production will be low if they don't get bigger. (However, I've read that determinates shouldn't be pruned.) Will pinching the early flowers force more growth, or will it cost me production?

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Comments (4)

digdirt2
13 years ago
With such a small variety plant (TT) 10" is plenty big enough to be blooming. Removing early blooms is always optional anyway so you can remove them if you wish but I wouldn't with this particular plant. Not all of them will likely set fruit anyway.

Dave
kurt_in_sw
Original Author
13 years ago
Dave, when you say you wouldn't do it with this particular plant, can you elaborate on why you feel that way?

(I've read that when the terminal branch sets fruit, determinates stop growing. These flowers are ALL terminal branch flowers.)
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I have a bit of a different recommendation. If you are in Blacksburg VA/zone 6 and your average last frost date is around the end of April or later, I recommend you start over. Assuming you have the seeds to do so of course, if not take cuttings. And, this time around try to use better lighting if you can so the seelings don't get too leggy. If your seedlings do end up leggy trench them when you plant them. IMHO you need to address the proper time to start your seedlings. The way to determine this is to determine the average last frost date for your area, add two weeks to be safe, then count back 6-8 weeks and start your seeds then. For newer growers I recommend 8 weeks. For example, I'm in zone 6, my average last frost date is April 30th, I plant out around May 15th, so I'll start my seeds the weekend of March 28th. I only go back 7 weeks because I use bottom heat, good lighting, etc. BTW, I agree with Dave about the pinching thing. Keep in mind, as Dave stated, that pinching in the way you're using it is generally applied to flowers. When pinching is used when discussing tomatoes it generally means pinching suckers. Good luck. Randy p.s. If you want to know why to add 2 weeks to the average last frost date just ask.
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Since they were planted more than 2 weeks ago then it sounds as if they are on track and behaving normally. So no I don't see any reason why they would need to be replaced. If you feel it is stressing the plant for some reason then you can always pinch off the blooms but usually, once transplanted, there is no need to remove any blooms that develop. If the plant can't support them then they don't set fruit and the plant drops them. Which is common with the first flush of blooms. Dave
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Usually my seedlings do not flower while still inside unless they have been sown more than 8 weeks before or if they are early variety (some ). My only plants that flowered inside were Silvery Fir Tree. I practiced/experimented electric tooth brush on one and it took. Now that one is the only one with a tomato about 5 to 6 oz and still getting bigger and the plant has more flowers and buds. Sey
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"So should I expect less production now?" Can't say. I doubt it would be any noticeable amount. You definitely lost any fruit those you removed may have produced but then they may not have set fruit anyway. Not all blooms do. And if a plant is too small or young to cope with fruit it often just drops the blooms or small fruit all on its own. Dave
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digdirt2
13 years ago
Dave, when you say you wouldn't do it with this particular plant, can you elaborate on why you feel that way?

I mean I wouldn't because it is a tiny little plant to begin with. It's a dwarf. And it is in a container. So its productive life is already limited by its size and its container. Removing blooms at its current size just reduces its possible production.

On the other hand if I am planting 8-10" tall determinates or indeterminates in the garden and they have blooms I will pinch the blooms off as I want the plant to focus on growth not setting fruit. At that size they aren't even an 1/8th their anticipated size at maturity so there is no way they have either the root structure or the leaves to support fruit set yet.

So if your TT was 4-6" tall with only a few leaves, sure I'd remove the blooms but not now at the size and development it shows in the photo.

OK?
Dave
kurt_in_sw
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes. Plant size. Thanks for the clarification.

These were just transplanted from 3.5" pots so they should be able to get much larger in their new environment. They are still less than half the size they are expected to achieve. I may experiment with one or two of the plants, to see if there is a difference. Although, I would hate to have it not set more flowers.

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