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Gone are the days when at the word "dacha" a plot of 6 acres stood in front of the inner gaze, overgrown with raspberries around the perimeter, with a small shed for storing a pair of shovels and a rake with a hoe, and so many beds that one could only move by jumping. Times are changing, many gardeners have enlarged their plots, their houses have grown, but the desire to grow as many vegetables and fruits as possible on their land has been preserved. Every amateur gardener strives to place fruit trees, various berries, and more vegetables on his land.
Many gardeners grow tomatoes on their plots, and they want to get a large harvest in a limited area. We will tell you how to increase the productivity of a tomato by forming a bush of tomatoes into two stems, but first you need to understand the whole variety of species and varieties of this culture. Learn the rules for forming tomatoes into two stems. A video on this topic will help you master all the subtleties. forming a tomato in two stems, and from the article you will gain knowledge about the species differences of tomatoes.
Choosing tomato seeds
When choosing seeds, people pay attention to bright inscriptions: high-yielding tomato variety, early ripeness of fruits, great taste, but these are advertising slogans. To choose the right variety of tomatoes, you need to know which variety they belong to, buy seeds depending on the climate and growing method: in the open field or in a greenhouse. The selection must be made according to the characteristics of the tallness of the bush and the timing of fruiting. This information is indicated on the packaging.
Many tomato seed producers, in order not to confuse the consumer, write a "tall" or "undersized" variety.
Varieties of tomatoes
In the wild, tomatoes are a herbaceous perennial vine, they spread on the ground, their growth is unlimited. As a result of serious selective work, tomato varieties with limited growth and amicable ripening of fruits were bred. Modern varieties of tomatoes are divided according to the strength of growth into two large groups: indeterminate and determinant (they are also called bush). The latter can be divided into three subgroups:
- Superdeterminate or standard ones are distinguished by their short stature, even dwarfism.
- Actually determinant - these are medium-sized varieties.
- Semi-determinant - tall varieties with above average vigor.
Indeterminate varieties and hybrids
The main stem has no growth restrictions. These tomatoes begin to bloom after the formation of 9-12 leaves, after every three leaves a new flower brush is laid. In warm climates and in a heated greenhouse, it can grow all year round, forming 40-50 fruit clusters. It requires the breakage of all stepsons, it is formed into one stem, the formation of a tomato into two trunks is impractical. For the southern regions, indeterminate varieties are suitable for growing in soil and greenhouses, the main condition is the possibility of tying to a high support or growing on a trellis. In the middle lane, such tomatoes can be grown in a greenhouse.In even more northern regions, it is unlikely that it will be possible to grow indeterminate varieties even in a greenhouse, the fruits will not have time to ripen.
Determinant tomatoes
They grow to a limited height. The first flower cluster is formed at the level of 5-7 leaves, subsequent clusters appear after 1-2 leaves. Having tied 4-5 brushes, the determinant tomato is crowded, that is, it forms a brush at the top, stopping vertical growth. Further development of the bush occurs on the stepchildren (lateral shoots), their growth is also limited by the development of the brush. Determinant tomatoes are characterized by early yield and low yield. Need pinching and shaping a bush.
Determinant tomatoes can be grown outdoors in the southern regions and in the middle lane. In the northern regions, these varieties are suitable for growing in greenhouses. The mass of the plant, especially if it is formed into two stems, is very high. The bush needs to be tied up.
Semi-determinant tomato varieties
They are a tall variety of determinant varieties, and can also be completed. Grow well in mid-latitude greenhouses. Suitable for two-stem formation.
Standard tomato varieties
Virtually maintenance-free. Low-growing plants, with a strong, thick stem. They do not need to be tied up, and stepsons do not need to be cut off either. The first flowering raceme is formed after 4-5 leaves, and then after 1-2 leaves.
Pros and cons of determinant tomatoes
In order to make a decision on growing a particular type of tomato, you need to have an accurate idea of their strengths and weaknesses, how to use the first to the advantage, and minimize the second.
Positive points in comparison with tall varieties
- Early fruiting results from the faster laying of the first flower cluster;
- Early ripeness of fruits occurs due to the laying of subsequent clusters through a smaller number of leaves;
- A large harvest is due to the almost simultaneous laying of several brushes.
Negative points in comparison with tall varieties
- Lower yield per bush due to the crowning of the plant;
- Increased demand for fertilizers is associated with more frequent brushing;
- The high degree of attention to the formation of the bush is due to the constant need to cut off the stepsons;
- The risk of disease is increased due to the low resistance of the bush loaded with fruits.
Features of the formation of tomato bushes
All types of tomatoes, with the exception of standard tomatoes, give a large number of side shoots (stepchildren). If the stepsons are not removed in time, then the green mass of the tomato bush grows, taking minerals from the soil, and there are not enough nutrients for the formation of fruits. The result is a lush bush with a minimum of fruit. Excessive thickening of the bushes interferes with good ventilation, and increases the risk of developing tomato diseases. Chopping off stepchildren, you get a neat, non-thickened bush that will direct all your forces to fruiting. You need to understand well where the leaf is, where the brush is, and where the stepson is, so as not to remove leaves or fruit brushes by mistake.
The leaf grows first, and almost from the same point, a lateral shoot (stepson) stretches, that is, you need to break off the upper sprout.
The most difficult thing is to distinguish between the stepson and the main stem at the first fork, it seems that the stem is simply bifurcating. Focus on the location of the flower brush. It is located above the stepson, emerging from his sinus, the main stem continues behind the brush. In the figure, the number 1 indicates the main stem, the number 2 is the leaf, the number 3 denotes the stepson, and the number 4 indicates the fruiting brush. The main rule for removing stepchildren is regularity.Inspect the plants every week - one and a half, do not let the side shoots grow more than 5 cm, otherwise they will draw off nutrients and their removal will be traumatic for the tomato bush.
Pinching technique
You need to remove the stepsons with your hands. When using the tool, there is a risk of transmission of infection from bush to bush. Prepare thin rubber gloves and a weak solution of potassium permanganate, in which you will rinse your hands, moving on to the next plant. Start pinching with the strongest and healthiest plants. Those that are in doubt, leave for last, or better for another day. Plan the pinching procedure in the morning hours of a fine day. After watering or feeding, tomatoes cannot be pinned, wait 2-3 days, at this time the plant actively assimilates water and nutrients.
In this video you can see how pinch tomatoes correctly:
Grab the stepson with your fingers on top and pinch him. You can powder the place where your stepson breaks off with ash or crushed coal. Throw the removed sprout under the bush, decomposing, it will fertilize the soil.
When removing the stepson, do not pull it down, together with the stepson you can tear the skin off the stem. In addition to the stress of trauma, infection can get into the open wound of the bush. After pinching, you can water by the evening of the next day.
Formation of determinant tomato varieties in two stems
Armed with the initial knowledge, we can move on to mastering the skills of forming tomatoes in two trunks, increasing the yield. Often, a tomato bush is formed, leaving the stepson at the leaf, which is located below the first brush. Examine the ovaries, and pinch the growth point after 6-8 inflorescences. As a rule, both stepchildren and inflorescences begin to grow after the seedlings have acclimatized. If the seedlings have been overexposed, then the inflorescences may still appear in the seedling pots.
Formation at the seedling stage
It is even easier to form a tomato into two stems - pinch the top of the seedling over the second real leaf. After this action, two shoots begin to grow from the axils of 1 and 2 leaves, it is they who will become the basis for a bush with two trunks. The early pinching method is less traumatic for the tomato bush.
Formation of tomatoes in the greenhouse
When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, that is, with a growing season of more than three months, grow determinant varieties in one barrel, and leave a backup stepson. You can leave a lateral shoot after the formation of 4-5 fruit clusters, leaving it in the leaf sinus under the upper inflorescence. When the main trunk stops growing, the spare stepson will continue to grow, it will be a continuation shoot, and stepsons will also grow on it, remove them too. If the central trunk has not stopped growing, then grow another brush on it, and then pinch.
In order to correctly regulate the load on the determinant tomato bush, pinching the trunk, follow the rule: the lateral replacement shoot should be located under the brush second from the top. The reserve shoot will take over the function of the stem, and the two upper clusters on the former main trunk will go down under the weight of the fruits. The stepson will need to pinch after the formation of 4-5 inflorescences. If you did the wrong pinching, and left a lateral shoot in the axil of the last leaf, it will lag behind in development. If your determinate tomato is formed into a single stem, always leave a reserve shoot.
The second option for the formation of tomatoes in two stems is suitable for long growing seasons. You will get the harvest a little later, but it will be more amicable. Leave the stepson under the first inflorescence, form a short continuation shoot from it, literally for two brushes. After two brushes and several leaves grow, this shoot should be pinched. The presence of fruits on the lower floor of the bush retards the growth of the upstream stem and slows down the formation of inflorescences higher up the stem.
Pay attention to the appearance of the plants. A heavy load requires increased nutrition, it weakens the plants, reduces disease resistance. Tie up both the main stem and the reserve trunks, the fruits should not touch the ground, otherwise they will rot. Examine fruiting bushes. Remove small fruits, let the nutrients get more promising. In the second half of summer, remove excess ovaries, if the fruits are tied on them, they will not have time to ripen, and only take away nutrients from ripening tomatoes.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing difficult in forming tomatoes into two trunks. Do not be afraid to purchase determinant varieties, experiment with the formation of bushes, and you are guaranteed large yields of tomatoes.
