With free growth, the tomato bush turns out to be too thickened. The bed from such bushes will turn into impenetrable thickets, which will not allow to take care of the plant and harvest. In addition, without formation, the plant produces small fruits, and they are often affected by diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to form a bush correctly. The article will discuss the features of the formation of low-growing varieties.

Rules for growing undersized tomatoes

These varieties are famous for their unpretentiousness, but there are rules for them to grow, so that the plant is strong and healthy:

1. Sowing seeds for seedlings: late March - early April.
2. The selection of quality seed.
3. Preparation of seed for planting on seedlings (disinfection, soaking, bubbling).
4. Selection of soil rich in organic matter.
5. Pickling seedlings with the advent of the second true leaf.
6. Landing in open ground after establishing the average daily temperature at around +12 ° C.
7. Hilling 2-3 weeks after planting in open ground.
8. Regular irrigation, top dressing and, if necessary, garter.

Did you know? Tomatoes can be used to clean toilets and plumbing. The acid contained in the vegetable can corrode limescale.

Do I need to pinch undersized tomatoes and why do this?

It is believed that undersized varieties of tomatoes do not require pinching. Yes, most of them stop growing when they reach a certain height. Nevertheless, it will be necessary to form a bush, if only for the sake of being able to enjoy the fruits earlier. It is also necessary to pinch the top when three brushes appear on the shoot.

How to form undersized tomatoes?

How to trim the bushes of tomatoes, we explain step by step. There are no differences in the procedure for trimming stepchildren in the open ground and in the greenhouse. There are differences in the principle of formation.

In the open ground

First-time stepsons are removed 14 days after the seedlings are planted in open ground. The interval is 10 days.

The procedure is as follows:

1. The main stem is selected (the first inflorescence appears on it).
2. In the axils of the leaves they find a young shoot with foliage. If its length is 4-6 cm - cut off, the smaller ones leave to grow.
3. Pruning should be carried out with a sterile instrument (secateurs). When pruning, a stump of 2 cm height is left. It prevents the growth of a new stepson.
4. If more than 4 inflorescences appear on the main stem, remove the extra ones.
5. Cropped shoots are removed from the site and destroyed.

Important! When working with secateurs, before moving to a new plant, the tool blades are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate so that the diseases are not tolerated.

In open ground, low bushes are formed from two or three stems. The formation of two stems requires the removal of all stepsons. Only the one that appeared under the inflorescence remains. The formation of three stems implies the presence of the first stepson under the brush and one of the strongest lower ones. The bushes formed in this way are tied.

In the greenhouse

In greenhouse conditions, low tomato bushes are formed from one, occasionally from two stems. The cropping technology is similar to that described above. Only stepsoning is carried out more often, twice a week.

If determinant plants are grown, then:

• the shoot, which will continue to grow, is left under the first inflorescence;
• this shoot will release several inflorescences and leaves - pinching is carried out;
• if a bush with one stem grows for five months, then the presence of stepsons is necessary for continued growth (it is left under the second or third inflorescence);
• semi-determinant varieties do not need a backup stepson (their growth does not stop with the appearance of inflorescences).

Video: Parting of undersized tomatoes. The formation of a bush in 3 stems

Features of pinching in different varieties

Low-growing varieties are:

• standard;
• superdeterminant;
• determinant.

All of them have features of the formation of a bush.

Important! To stop the stepson's growth, it is necessary to pinch it two sheets after the appearance of the second brush.

Stamp varieties

This species forms first the inflorescence, and then the stepsons, which do not deprive the plants of their strength. Because of this, they are practically not stepson. The procedure is resorted to if you need an early harvest (it can accelerate ripening by 14 days).

Super determinants

Superdeterminants form three brushes on each stem. The lowest stepchildren and foliage are removed. Two stalks can be formed to accelerate the ripening process, but the tomatoes will grow medium in size. But their number will be more. Formation in one stem will allow you to get large tomatoes, but there will be only three brushes.

Determinants

They are formed from one or two stems. In the first version, the main stem is left, and the stepsons are cut off. In the second - only the stepson under the lower flower brush is not removed. Two brushes are left on it, the rest will be on the main.

The bush formation is possible in another way: when three hands appear on the main stem, pinch its top. The stepson will grow further, which will appear from the sinus of the first flower brush. He is pinched when two brushes are formed, and give another stepson to grow, on it, from the sinus of his first flower brush.

Video: Step-planting and bushes of determinant varieties of tomatoes

Varieties of undersized tomatoes that do not require pinching

Unpretentious with good yield:

• Watercolor;
• Red fang;
• Miracle of Siberia;
• You have;
• Krakowyak.

Large fruited:

• Knight;
• Lord
• Gina TST;
• Raspberry Viscounte.

Thus, pinching is required even undersized varieties to accelerate ripening and fruiting. This procedure is simple, you do not need to have special skills.