Since we seem to be on the tomato subject, here's a question I have. Some folks have told me they pluck some of the first blooms to make the rest of the tomatoes bigger. Do you do this? If so, which blooms on the row do you pinch off and when and how often? Thanks for the info. This forum is such a great help to me. I have learned and practiced organic gardening by bits and pieces and these forums help me learn more every day.
I never have plucked the first blooms. I think I am too anxious for the taste of the first garden tomato. Pinching off the blooms would just put off my first bite.
Making a splash on the Kings River in Northwest Arkansas. Zone 6a
When I want to ensure a good harvest I will pluck all of the blooms until July 1. I do this to let the plant get good and strong and then I let it go. Sort of like those toy wind up cars that you hold in place on the floor and wind and wind and wind. When you let go - pow! - off they go.
The size of your tomato is influenced as much by the genetics as anything else. If you desire to grow extremly large, and often tasteless, tomatoes pinch off all the blossoms except those you want. But if you simply want fairly large and tastey tomatoes don't, my tomatoes seem to limit themselves to what the plants can support without my doing anything else. If you want really big tomatoes get plants that are genetically predisposed to produce big tomatoes, ie Big Boy and that type.
The only time I have plucked blooms, is when they are on plants I have purchased. I believe it helps the plant put strength and energy into re-establishing after transplanting instead of going into the first fruits. Otherwise, I let 'em go. I also am impatient to get those first season tomatoes.
I am planting a bunch of heirlooms this year that I started from seed and a few storebought tried and trues (just in case).
Thanks, guys. I think I might pluck blooms on one or two plants to see what happens. I wait so long for tomato season I hate to miss one tomato! I'll let you know if it makes a difference.
> Thanks, guys. I think I might pluck blooms on one or > two plants to see what happens. I wait so long for > tomato season I hate to miss one tomato! I'll let you > know if it makes a difference.
