Pinching out tomatoes – why and how

Pinching out is one of the most important care tasks for tomatoes – and often causes confusion. Yet it is simple: you remove the so-called side shoots so the plant puts its energy into the fruit rather than into ever more shoots. The result is healthier plants and larger, more aromatic tomatoes.

Important to know: mainly cordon tomatoes are pinched out – bush and wild tomatoes are left alone.

What are side shoots?

Side shoots are the shoots that form in the leaf axils – that is, in the angle between the main stem and a leaf. If left to grow, the plant forms more and more shoots, becomes bushy and unmanageable and puts a lot of energy into foliage instead of fruit.

Why pinch out?

By removing the side shoots, the cordon tomato concentrates its energy on a few main shoots and on fruiting. The plant becomes airier, the leaves dry off faster – this prevents the dreaded late blight. The fruits become larger and ripen more reliably.

How to pinch out correctly

• Be early: break out side shoots while they are still small (a few centimetres) – then the wound heals quickly.
• Break out or cut off: snap small shoots off sideways; for thicker ones use a clean knife.
• In dry weather: best in the morning, so the wounds dry off and no fungi enter.
• Keep the main shoot(s): train the plant to one or two main shoots.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pinch out all tomatoes?
No. Cordon tomatoes yes, bush, balcony and wild tomatoes grow bushy by nature and are not pinched out.

What do I do with the side shoots?
You can put larger side shoots in a glass of water – they form roots and make new tomato plants.

So you know what you are growing: our tomato young plants state whether they are cordon or bush tomatoes. We raise our young plants to be robust.