This year i have two each of 8 varieties. I picked the flowers off half of them. so far there is no noticeable difference in plant growth (both are thriving) and a few of those original flowers set fruit and are sizing up nicely. Others seem to have aborted. Since it doesn't seem to have affected their initial growth I will probably leave the flowers on in coming years, but I may do the same thing next year as a second test. The varieties I planted are below. All had flowers or buds when I transplanted them on May 3rd. Cherry Roma (seemed to abort many of the early flowers, but there are a few tiny fruit). Park's Whopper (seemed to get fruit from all (most?) early flowers and is sizing up nicely), Black Krim (some fruit) German Pink (No fruit yet) Marianna's Peace (no fruit yet) Kosovo (some fruit and sizing up very nicely. this one might be my surprise winner for early toms) Opalka (no fruit yet) Italian Heirloom (most flowers seem to have aborted but I have one tomato) Those that I pinched the flowers off have no fruit but have lots of new flower/bud trusses (trusses?) so, even though the growth seems to be similar, perhaps they will set more fruit later in the season. But, I really haven't paid close attention to which ones have the most flowers. I suppose time will tell. -jon ps. i really appreciate all of the regular responders on this forum. I have learned so much. thanks.

I wouldn't want my 12" plants blooming (even though they would already be in the garden for me if they were that tall) so I would remove the blooms. How long until you can plant them in the garden? Dave

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

Are your plants now in the ground and how long have they been there? If your plants have been in the ground more than two weeks or so, don't pluck the blooms. They know when they are ready to make tomatoes. On the other hand, if they were blooming in the pots you boght them in, they may have responded to less than ideal conditions and bloomed in an attempt to propagate themselves. (Survival of the species.) Betsy