Tomato Laterals - remove or not

Tomato laterals

Tomato Laterals - remove or not

Pinching out Tomato laterals, yes or no?

There is no straightforward answer to this question, can depend on the tomato variety and growing conditions.

In general, it’s best to pinch out all laterals (the small shoots that grow between the main stem and leaves) until your tomato plant reaches about one metre high. This helps create a strong framework to support healthy growth and ripening tomatoes.

If you’re growing vigorous varieties such as Sweet 100, expect plenty of laterals to appear. These plants often need extra staking to keep them supported, but the reward is a heavy crop of tasty tomatoes.

For more traditional varieties, as the plants mature, allow some lateral growth to develop. At the same time, apply additional fertiliser to support the new growth and ongoing fruit production.

Keep in mind there’s a limit to how much lateral growth a tomato plant can successfully sustain - too much and you’ll end up with fewer, smaller fruit.

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