Pinch out growing tips?

Question

I understand that the majority of people suggest that side shoots are removed when growing tomatoes and chillis, and I am doing this.

One thing I am unsure of though is the comment: "pinch out growing tips."

Is this simply referring to side shoots once again or is this something completely different?

I am referring to two articles from BBC Gardening:

"When they are about 30cm pinch out growing tips to increase branching." http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_growing_aubergines_chillies_peppers2.shtml#before_putting_outside

"When your plant has produced four sets of flowering trusses, pinch out the growing tip." http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_growingtomatoes2.shtml#growing_tips

I think this is quite simple, but I am very unsure of what I am being advised to do. Could someone please explain?

Kindest regards,

claughton86

Answer 1

If you are referring to tomatoes it means the top of the plant that is the growing tip.

I take out the tip after five or six trusses and always take out any side shoots.This way all the plant energy is put in to the production of large or bountiful supply of tomatoes.

I presume it is the same as other plants.

Answer 2

Yes on Toms, pinch out the top most growing tip, after 4 main branches form. Also small side shoots growing in the joint between main stem and side branches daily.

Not sure about Chillies but the principal is the same.

Answer 3

the 2 quotes you are showing are for 2 different plants.

the chillis do not need to be tall plants so they advise you to pinch out the tips at 30cm to enable the plant to bush out by spreading shoots out. with these shoots it will encourage more fruit buds to form.

the tomatoes however when grown in a greenhouse are usually trained to grow up a cane or some other stake. all the fruiting trusses will come of the main stem which is why they tell you to pinch out the side shoots. the experts tell you to pinch out the top after 4 trusses have formed to maintain the best quality of tomato production. i however have tended to go to 5 and sometimes 6. the reason for 4 trusses is also dependent on the height of the frame you are housing them in.

the plant after the tip has been pinched out will try to form new shoots and will continue to set the fruit.

you can plant tomatoes and let them grow to a height of about 2ft and then pinch the top out and let them bush out.

Answer 4

read here...

http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipst...

pay close attention to the part about 'Apical dominance'....

pinching the growing tips to increase branching is what we do to mums from spring to summer to be sure there will be compact, heavily branched mounds of flowers in fall...... and that's done by pinching off the top little new set of tiny leaves on EVERY branch, a couple of times thru the season, up until July fourth, when we stop and let the plant do it's thing from there.....

on seedlings, one pinches after there's several sets of true leaves so that same branching will start... this produces the same deal, a stout, compact plant with many branches , thus many spots for flowers or fruit.....

Answer 5

The growing tips are the leaves at the very top of the plant, not the side shoots.  Pinching these out prevents the plant from growing any taller.    

Answer 6

The way that you have described about pinching out is if you want to stake and train your tomatoes, particularly if you are growing them in a green house. I have tried various ways of growing tomatoes each year, for about the last 25 years, and I have found now that if I am growing them out in the garden I may or may not stake them, and I don't pinch out the tips. I just let them grow freely. I get loads of tomatoes usually in a good sunny year.

Of course if you wish to grow for competitions then it is best to go along with the staking and training, and pinching out.

I like to grow the small sweet varieties, Sungold, and Vittorio which are usually heavy croppers.