Stepchildren, or lateral shoots, are formed on each tomato bush.
There is an opinion that stepchildren interfere with the development of fruits, and this is not unfounded.
However, there are some shoots that, if you thoughtlessly get rid of them, you risk being left without a harvest at all.
Which tomato side shoots should be left?
Active growth of tomato side shoots begins before flowering, so they need to be removed every week or every 10 days.
However, there are some stepsons that are worth leaving in the place where they grow in order to get twice the harvest.
The stepson under the lower brush is the most powerful in a tomato plant, and it is not worth getting rid of.
With proper care, the plant will eventually produce two stems, which in turn guarantees a double harvest.
This rule applies to both tall and low-growing tomato varieties, as well as hybrids.
By the way, you shouldn't get rid of the stepsons themselves after you've cut them. If you put them in a jar of water, you can get rooted seedlings in a couple of weeks.
