Should I pinch flowers?

13 years ago

I just put in my transplants and my July 4th plant is starting to flower. The plant is about 8 inches high. I am in South Jersey.

Should I pinch these off or let them go?

What is the best way to pinch? The entire cluster or just that flower?

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Comments (3)

organicislandfarmer
13 years ago
I don't think you should pinch the flowers. If its too early the fruit wont set. If its right,nature will take its course. Tomatoes seem to be a fire and forget sort of plant. Watch for pests and water/feed etc.
digdirt2
13 years ago
You can just leave them to die and fall off on their own or you can remove them. I remove them when the plants are that young and small. It reduces stress on the plant and I prefer the plant's energy go to growth, not wasted on blooms or fruit. There will be plenty of blooms and fruit later when the plant is better able to support them.

Dave
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Leave 'em. About the only time people recommend removing flowers is if the plant was already flowering in a container that was being transplanted out into the ground (thus there would be some root disturbance in the move and the plant has to re-establish itself)... and even then, I have had no problem with leaving the flowers on. Tomatoes are tough plants and will love the weather we are going to be having this week (warm).
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I always pinch flower buds on plants that I am getting to root (especially on hard to root stuff). This is because of determinism. When a plant is flowering all the energy is being put into that flower to create seed and reproduce itself. It is beneficial to pinch the flower off. This will change the hormonal balance in the plant. It will make it regroup and make more roots and re-try to flower again. I would pinch, it should increase the success. DAN
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If the plant isn't stressed and I've already got them transplanted, I let the plant decide for itself if it wants to fruit. Doesn't matter to me if the plant is 12 inches tall or 20. If the plant is able to produce fruit it will, if it can't it will abort the blossoms. But since you are going to transplant soon, I say pinch the blossoms off. Rodney
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ladybug_la
13 years ago
Dave: Not a tomato question, but I am starting to get blooms on my cantaloupe plants I put it. The plant is about 2 feet long now. Should I pinch them off also?

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Should I pinch flowers?

Comments (3)

organicislandfarmer

digdirt2

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