Trimming a tomato to one main vine

GlassHen 5/31/2011, 6:19 pm

I would like to trim this tomato down to one main vine. How do I know which one to cut?

Trimming a tomato to one main vine P1040412

**Furbalsmom** 5/31/2011, 7:09 pm

GlassHen, from the picture it looks like there are two plants in one pot.

Be sure it is an INDETERMINATE tomato before you start snipping. Check the variety on line if the pot or marker do not identify it as Determinate or Indeterminate.

Both stems look healthy to me. I would keep the sturdier of the two stems.

But, remember, this is my first year training to one stem too.

GlassHen 5/31/2011, 7:57 pm

It's a Purple Russian. I just double checked it is definitely an indeterminate. The two stems are attached at the bottom. I was hoping it was two plants, but looks like I missed the 2 for 1 deal on this one.

**camprn** 5/31/2011, 8:08 pm

Well that settles it, just pick one and snip it low. If you cannot pick.... eenie, meenie, miney, mo...
What a Face

GreenBlueberry 5/31/2011, 8:40 pm

Or you could keep both. I started trimming mine to one vine when I planted them, but I see I am not going to get many tomatoes (my season is not that short), and now I regret doing so. I am now letting 2 vines (and only 2) go up, and I will probably do the same next year from the bottom of the plants.
Have you read the book from the guy that has the world record for tallest tomato plant? I think the grows 2 vines, and then lets those 2 split to 3, something like that (I don't have the book handy).

GlassHen 5/31/2011, 8:45 pm

If I left it with the two stems can I still fit it in 1 square foot?

GreenBlueberry 5/31/2011, 8:50 pm

Space-wise, it fits. Nutrient-wise, I am not sure how much additional food it will need. I don't have my book handy. Does Mel say to trim to one vine or there is nothing specific?

martha 5/31/2011, 9:15 pm

I don't think he talks about trimming to one vine.

**camprn** 5/31/2011, 9:30 pm

GlassHen wrote:If I left it with the two stems can I still fit it in 1 square foot?

I don't see why not. You could put 2 6' stakes in on either side of the plant. It will need pruning & no doubt you will have to feed it. If it gets totally out of hand you can always cut it back later. Very Happy

petals1973 5/31/2011, 10:51 pm

If you really want 2 plants just cut one and stick it in a pot of mel's mix. It will root within days and it will have a ton of roots in a week. I did that and when I put my cuttings in the ground they were getting root bound and they had only been in the 4" pot for 2 weeks. I have also just stuck a cutting directly into a square without rooting and it was droopy for a couple of days but it perked right up as soon as it developed roots. I pulled one out today that had been in the ground about 3 days and it a root ball the size of a quarter.

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