The formation of tomatoes or pinching, as the technique is often called by the people, is the most important agricultural technique, without which it is almost impossible to grow a good crop. Only certain varieties of super-early tomatoes do without pinching.
Even the absence of dressings may have less effect on yields than the uncontrolled growth of the bush. But even with stepsoning, one cannot do without knowledge of the characteristics of the variety, methods, formation schemes and certain rules.
Why form a bush in a tomato
The main part of tomato varieties has the physiological ability to form lateral shoots in almost every sinus, on which, in turn, new ones grow. The growth and increase of the bush occurs exponentially.
Such growth in a short time turns the bush into a heap of green mass. If there can be many flowers on it, then the ovaries are unlikely to be numerous. In order for full-fledged fruit brushes to be tied, the plant will need a lot of nutrition and light.
The plant will not have enough strength for the simultaneous intensive growth of green mass, the development and ripening of fruits. An agrotechnical technique that significantly improves the condition of the bush and increases productivity is the formation. This is an artificial regulation of the number of shoots to create favorable conditions for the fruiting of the bush.
Advantages and disadvantages of forming tomatoes in 2 stalks
Quite often, two stems are left for fruiting, which become almost equivalent, like a mirror image of each other. In two stems, medium-sized indeterminate and almost all determinant varieties can be formed. The exception is standard varieties that do not give side shoots. This formation allows:
- get an early harvest from the first brushes;
- increase the number of fruit clusters in varieties with limited growth;
- effectively use the area of low protective structures.
Among the disadvantages:
- each of the shoots needs a garter;
- the danger of breaking the stems under the weight of the crop at the site of the growth of the second shoot;
- shading increases by a double number of leaves.
General rules and a scheme for the formation of a bush in two stems
When to start
There are two common ways to grow two stems with one root system:
- The most common method is in which the first pinching is carried out 10-14 days after planting the seedlings in the ground.
Plants planted in the ground quickly acclimatize, and the seedling will have the first flower brush. Active growth of shoots begins. If the seedlings are planted late, the first brush may appear already in the pot, then the stepsoning begins immediately after the seedlings are engrafted.
A healthy stepchild in the axil of the leaf below the flower brush is left and cared for in the same way as the main stem. Over time, both stems will become equal, and new shoots will appear in the leaf axils that need to be removed.
- The second way is the formation of a bush at the stage of seedling production.
It is called the early pinching method. The top of the seedlings is pinched after the second true leaf, then equivalent shoots will appear in the axil of the first and second leaves, from which two trunks will develop. It is believed that this method injures the plant less. On the other hand, at an early stage it is difficult to predict whether these shoots will be healthy and of high quality.
How to stepson
In order not to harm the plant, pinching work must be carried out in compliance with some rules:
- Plants must be dry, without dew, so that the infection does not get into the wounds with moisture. In this regard, the plants are not fed on the eve of pinching.
- Work is carried out in dry weather at a moderate air temperature.
- The best time for pinching is the morning hours, when the shoots are more juicy and break easily.
- The optimal size of the shoot for removal is up to 5 cm. Overgrown stepsons overload the plants, and when they are removed, the stem may be injured. Such shoots need to be cut with a knife.
- The main method of stepsoning is to break out the stepson manually. To do this, he is taken to the side, holding with his fingers, and with a little effort is pressed to the bottom. If the plant is not wilted, the stepson will break off very easily.
- So that a new shoot does not grow in the axil of the leaf after the removal of one shoot, it is necessary to leave a small stump when breaking off, which will give the plant a signal that the place is occupied.
Attention! Plants with signs of the disease are stepchildren last, disinfecting the knife and hands after each bush.
To prevent overgrowth of the shoots, the bushes must be inspected weekly.
When and how to pinch
The next step in the formation of the bush is pinching the growth point. If the bush was formed into two stems, from which all shoots were removed, then there are two such points.
Topping in some varieties with limited growth can be omitted. It all depends on the timing of the growing season, the development of the plant, the place of its cultivation and weather conditions.
Pinching the point of growth helps to mobilize the plant for fruit set and fruit ripening. The growth point is not pinched immediately above the flower brush, but 2-3 leaves after it. This will improve the photosynthesis of the plant.
Important! Pinching the growth point is carried out after the flowers of the last inflorescence open.
Removing leaves
In parallel with breaking off the stepchildren, the leaves are removed below the fruit brushes. At the same time, no more than 2 healthy leaves are removed from each stem. Diseased leaves are removed first.
Features of the formation of a bush in 2 stems
in the greenhouse
In the greenhouse, tall tomatoes are often planted, both determinant and with limited growth. Form them in 1 or 2 stems. The principles of pinching for organizing two stems are common. When planting, you need to take into account that food and space for two stems need to be doubled and they need to be tied up separately. In order for all the brushes to have time to set fruits and ripen during the growing season, you need to pinch the growth point in a timely manner.
In the open field
Preference is given to undersized and medium-sized tomato varieties. For a short growing season, you need to get the maximum yield, so the formation of two or three stems is an effective technique. At the same time, in undersized varieties, the top is not pinched, and in medium-sized varieties, the decision to pinch is made depending on the condition of the plant and weather conditions.
How to form a trunk
This is a type of shrub that develops a flower cluster early (after 3-4 leaves). After another 2-3 sheets, another one appears. The distance between the following brushes is reduced. After several brushes (from 2 to 8) the growth of the plant ends (determines).
In other words, instead of a growing shoot, the last flower brush is laid. If you remove all the shoots from the main stem, the vegetation will end with only these brushes.
At the same time, a healthy plant with a developed root system is capable of more. To increase the potential, at the beginning of the growing season, the first healthy shoot is left, from which the second stem grows. It carries the same functions as the main one. The care is the same.
- In superdeterminate or superearly tomatoes
You can prolong fruiting by leaving not the lower stepson, but the last one, located below the last brush. Other lateral processes are removed. This will give the plant the opportunity to lay 1-2 more flower clusters on this shoot. Some super-early varieties (standard) do not require formation, since they practically do not form side branches.
Recommendations for the formation of a bush
In order for the tomato bush to provide maximum return, you need to choose the formation scheme that is most suitable for a particular variety and its growing conditions. To do this, you need to know exactly which variety you grow and its physiological characteristics. Delaying the timing of pinching negatively affects the yield.
The formation of tomato plants in 2 stems is a simple agricultural technique that allows you to grow a good harvest of early products and rationally use the garden area.
