To pluck or not to pluck

Tiffanygoodyk · June 25, 2014

I am a learn from experience kind of person. My husband and I have grown a garden every year since we were married. (17 years as of the 21st) Just in the last couple of years have I started to pay attention to the details about the tomatoes Ive been growing. My father always taught me to pinch the early blossoms on a tomato plant so the plant itself will take the time to develop a strong stem system. I was wondering if I should pluck the blossoms on a determinate plant. By plucking the blossoms am I lowering the number of fruit I will get from this plant?

cythaenopsis · June 25, 2014

I would not pluck any blossoms. Each one of them is a gift without a guarantee. A flower may not pollinate, or do so but then mysteriously die or fall off. You just don't know... so let nature take its course and enjoy the tomatoes when they finally come!

KarenO · June 25, 2014

definitely, plucking blooms will reduce the number of fruit that will be produced by any determinate tomato plant.
KarenO

ContainerTed · June 25, 2014

Perhaps your father didn't like to rely on support systems other than the main stem of the plants. But, most folks don't mind putting up some poles or wire cages to help the plants keep from breaking under the load of a large crop.

I have a hybrid (Big Boy) that has more than 20 fruit set and it's in an 18 gallon nursery pot. I have an oak stake and a standard tomato cage for support. I am a strong proponent of "no pruning" and "no pinching". However, I respect your right to pinch and prune to your heart's delight and especially your father's approval. My advice is to add support and enjoy the extra harvest.

b54red · June 25, 2014

I agree with some of the above posts especially as far north as you are. Down here we have a very long growing season and keeping everything away from the ground is a plus and some pruning even on determinate varieties can be a plus as far as disease prevention is concerned. I have 7 determinate plants growing now and did not remove any of the early blossoms. Usually those first several trusses are the ones that will provide you with the bulk of your crop on a determinate plant and also your largest fruits. Removing them will certainly lessen the number of fruits you would ultimately get off the plant. As for pruning it I would remove all the leaves below the first truss just to allow better air flow.

Bill

June 25, 2014	#1
Tiffanygoodyk Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Baraboo, WI Posts: 3	To pluck or not to pluck I am a learn from experience kind of person. My husband and I have grown a garden every year since we were married. (17 years as of the 21st) Just in the last couple of years have I started to pay attention to the details about the tomatoes Ive been growing. My father always taught me to pinch the early blossoms on a tomato plant so the plant itself will take the time to develop a strong stem system. I was wondering if I should pluck the blossoms on a determinate plant. By plucking the blossoms am I lowering the number of fruit I will get from this plant?

June 25, 2014	#2
cythaenopsis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Hoboken, NJ USA Posts: 347	I would not pluck any blossoms. Each one of them is a gift without a guarantee. A flower may not pollinate, or do so but then mysteriously die or fall off. You just don't know... so let nature take its course and enjoy the tomatoes when they finally come! __________________ I'm GardeningAloft.blogspot.com (container growing apartment dweller)

June 25, 2014	#4
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Perhaps your father didn't like to rely on support systems other than the main stem of the plants. But, most folks don't mind putting up some poles or wire cages to help the plants keep from breaking under the load of a large crop. I have a hybrid (Big Boy) that has more than 20 fruit set and it's in an 18 gallon nursery pot. I have an oak stake and a standard tomato cage for support. I am a strong proponent of "no pruning" and "no pinching". However, I respect your right to pinch and prune to your heart's delight and especially your father's approval. My advice is to add support and enjoy the extra harvest. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

June 25, 2014	#3
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	definitely, plucking blooms will reduce the number of fruit that will be produced by any determinate tomato plant. KarenO

June 25, 2014	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I agree with some of the above posts especially as far north as you are. Down here we have a very long growing season and keeping everything away from the ground is a plus and some pruning even on determinate varieties can be a plus as far as disease prevention is concerned. I have 7 determinate plants growing now and did not remove any of the early blossoms. Usually those first several trusses are the ones that will provide you with the bulk of your crop on a determinate plant and also your largest fruits. Removing them will certainly lessen the number of fruits you would ultimately get off the plant. As for pruning it I would remove all the leaves below the first truss just to allow better air flow. Bill