Forming a tomato bush in a greenhouse

For what purpose is it necessary to shape the bush?

Formation of a bush tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse This will not only improve its appearance but also significantly increase the plant's yield. Removing excess branches will prevent the tomatoes from wasting energy on growth, and instead will direct all their nutrients toward fruit development and ripening. However, fruiting depends not only on proper plant formation but also on the variety chosen for planting in the greenhouse. By planting hybrids in the garden, the gardener will be able to enjoy a fresh harvest throughout the summer and until the first cold days of autumn.

Greenhouse tomatoes require proper planting and care when growing and shaping the bush. While it would be ideal if the bush grew only upward, each bush produces individual side shoots, which may not produce any fruit but will rob the plant of nutrients for their growth. Side shoots appear between the leaves, and up to three shoots can be found in each axil. These must be removed, otherwise the plant's yield will drop significantly.

Uninformed gardeners think that the larger the bush grows, the greater the harvest, but this statement is fundamentally wrong, because excess growth prevents sufficient nutrients from reaching the fruits or inflorescences, and the shoots also prevent sunlight from penetrating the leaves, which slows down the ripening of tomatoes.

If side shoots aren't removed, by mid-summer the entire greenhouse will be covered in tomato thickets, making it difficult to find the first blossoms or even small fruits. Furthermore, during the period of active foliage growth, the plant will expend a lot of energy and nutrients on growth, leaving little energy for fruit development and ripening, reducing yields by three or even four times.

Tomatoes for the greenhouseWhen growing and shaping the bush, tomatoes require proper care, as if side shoots are not removed, they will be constantly exposed to various diseases. Pathogenic bacteria will quickly develop in the dense foliage, and since tomatoes begin to weaken as soon as the first fruits appear, even a harmless disease can destroy the plant.

To prevent disease, the greenhouse requires constant ventilation. While a trained bush receives sufficient oxygen, a plant with numerous side shoots will not be able to get enough air due to the dense foliage. Based on the above, it can be concluded that tomato bushes require timely care, and bush training is the most important aspect of caring for the plants and the future harvest.

How to properly shape a bush

Tomatoes in a greenhouse require timely care when growing and shaping the bush, and the key to creating a proper bush is pinching out side shoots. Experienced gardeners advise that a bush should have a maximum of three stems, and no more than eight branches in total. Any other shoots are considered unnecessary, as they won't yield a good harvest.

How to properly remove side shoots from a tomato plant

Fifteen days after planting tomatoes in the ground, the first side shoot removal process begins. After this initial procedure, you'll need to repeat the process every two weeks; in some areas, you'll need to do the side shoot removal every ten days.

If the first flower has formed on one of the stems, it should be considered the plant's main flower. When other shoots begin to form on the stem between the leaves, these are called side shoots, and they should be removed from each plant. Avoid removing these shoots when they are too small; it's recommended to wait until they reach six centimeters, then remove the side shoots.

We recommend: How to fertilize tomatoes when planting

Some gardeners, when planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, make a serious mistake when growing and shaping the plant: they trim off the side shoots with scissors. This is not recommended. Each shoot should simply be broken off, but the process is easier on the plant if the side shoots are removed early in the morning. The side shoots themselves should not be removed right down to the root; it is recommended to leave about two centimeters of the shoot. This will eliminate the side shoot but also prevent the plant from developing new side shoots. If the gardener wants to form a single-stemmed plant, it is best to remove all the side shoots at once. However, if two stems are desired, the lowest shoot should be left.

Here's a helpful tip for getting an excellent harvest early: remove side shoots so that no more than three shoots remain on the stem. All other shoots are removed, and the top is pinched at a specific growth stage. This way, the plant will devote all its energy to developing new fruit, and the bush itself will not grow. This is how you can get a new harvest quickly. It's important to tie up each stem, as the bush will be thin and the tomatoes could topple it with their weight.

How to pinch off the tops of plants

Once each bush has formed the correct number of clusters, the gardener will need to pinch them off. Greenhouse tomatoes require special care during cultivation and shaping, and pinching is a crucial step. Failure to prune the top of the bush will cause the plant to continue growing, leading to improper plant development and reduced fruiting.

If the bush doesn't grow, all the nutrients will be diverted to the future fruits for their development and proper ripening. To ensure successful pinching, it's necessary to cut off the top of the plant, leaving two leaves on each side of the stem after each branch.

Why are leaves cut?

Leaves also need to be trimmed, tomatoes in a greenhouse when growing and shaping a bush (video) need this procedure no less than in stepsoningAlthough many gardeners debate whether to remove leaves from tomato plants, some completely remove the foliage, leaving just two or three leaves. This helps improve fruiting and oxygen supply. Other gardeners are against this method of growing tomatoes, but it is the foliage that harbors bacteria and diseases that affect tomatoes and the fruit themselves.

However, if you completely trim the leaves, metabolic processes will be significantly disrupted, and the tomatoes' nutrition will be less than desired, ultimately leading to slow growth and reduced fruit production. While you can remove the lower leaves of the plant, as well as any green foliage that has begun to turn yellow and dry out, it's best to leave the green leaves.

If a gardener hasn't yet tried growing tomatoes, they can create several beds, one with leaves and one without, on each plant. When flowering and fruiting season arrives, the gardener will appreciate the results. There are many methods for training tomato plants, each with its pros and cons, so it's worth finding your own method that will help you get a great harvest.

With proper care, each plant will produce a good yield, but don't overdo it, as over-care can also negatively impact future yields. Don't be afraid to experiment; it's recommended to try new tomato varieties in your garden, use different plant care methods, and test different bush training techniques. Only then will a gardener be able to find the ideal tomato growing method.