Tomato side shooting help please

[Flower0503]

Hi,

Having failed to side shoot properly in previous years and ended up with big bushes, im really trying this year. I have also previously taken off the growing tip thinking it was a side shoot. Im struggling to know of this (highlighted bit in photo) is a side shoot or not- any advice please?

Looks like a side shoot to me. The main shoot has mini flowers.
I'd be pulling that side shoot off. I find tomato plants very forgiving so you should be fine!

Yes, that's a sideshoot. Anythjng that grows in the corner of the V between main stem and the stem below this, remove. When the plants get to the height you want, nip the main stem at the top

Yes the bit highlighted in purple is the side shoot (also known as a sucker) that would be taken out.
BUT... a) you will actually get more tomatoes leaving them in (the plant will just be a bit unruly) and b) if you have talen off the growing tip you might want to try leaving at least one on and let the plant grow on from there.
Interesting point for you though... if you take the sucker off when it's a couple of inches, stick it in the ground it should start another plant. If it dies try rooting it in a glass of water before planting it. 😁

it's easierto catch side shoots when they are really small.

tbh I usually allow one side shoot as back up (in case a cat breaks of the tip jumping over the plant).

Yes the bit highlighted in purple is the side shoot (also known as a sucker) that would be taken out. Suckers are different, they’re shoots arising from the rootstock on a grafted plant, or from the roots on a non grafted plant

Great thank you all 😀

Hang on - I think I need help! I just inherited a greenhouse and put a tomato plant and it's bushy all over the place- is this bad? Should I be pulling bits off?

Not necessarily! Some varieties of tomatoes tend to be grown as cordons, or tall uprights with branches off it. These ones tend to get the sideshoots taken off. Others are bushes, which grow to a set, less tall height and are... bushy. They just do their own thing.

But if you don't side shoot it doesn't matter, it just takes up more space and is maybe less efficient. It'll still fruit.

The side shoots root so easily. Shove them in compost and you'll have endless plants :)