Removing tomato laterals (side shoots) helps your plants focus energy on producing bigger, tastier fruit - you can even use those pruned shoots to grow new plants! Liz @tiny_farmstead shares some easy tips to help you learn how to spot and prune tomato laterals to encourage healthy plants and plentiful harvests.
1. Think of laterals as the armpits of the plant, you have the stem and each branch or arm that comes out the side.
2. In the nook between the stem and the branch are shoots. These shoots are laterals.
3. To remove the laterals, carefully pinch them out.
4. When removing laterals be careful as it opens up a wound to the plant.
5. Do this on sunny, dry day - not when it's humid. Humid conditions increase the chance of disease entering the plant.
6. For free tomato plants, sit the stem of your lateral cutting in a glass of water. New roots will grow near the cut area and you'll have a new tomato plant!
Discover more advice and inspiration for growing your own tomatoes at the Tomato Hub >
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How to identify and prune tomato laterals with Liz Comments
Love your emails and the article where you detail how to prune tomatoes and grow new plants from the laterals.
Trish Moir
A really clear view and explanation of the tomato lateral.
Elizabeth Brugh