Pinching off the blossoms will send more energy to the
plant that it would otherwise use to grow blossoms.

Yes, it's good advice.

But it won't kill the growth, just slow it down.

I think pinching off blossoms is ill-advised, unless you have a really sickly plant, or an extremely long growing season. In my zone, it is always a struggle to get early tomatoes - I let nature take its course. I haven't seen any negative effects from letting the fruit develop as they wish.

I've never pinched off a blossom unless it withers by itself...I actually had the winner for largest tomato at a contest from the earliest blossom on a Cherokee Chocolate plant in 2006

Sumilea,

I'm looking at the "Marlborough, MA" next to your name and assuming you are growing the Kumato seedling for eventual planting outside in your garden. If so, you have a seedling that was started rather early considering you still have a couple of months wait to plant it out. In that case, yes, I would pinch off the flowers until you transplant the seedling to it's permanent bed or container. In fact, if I had a seedling that far advanced first week of March, I'd probably cut it off the root stock and re-root it ... but that's another subject, I guess.

So, to answer your question, yes, until the seedling is in its permanent bed or container, I would pinch off premature flowers because at time of transplant, I would plant the seedling deeply leaving only its top few sets of true leaves above ground.

However, if you are growing this plant in a greenhouse or some sort of indoor set-up where it's in a 5-gallon or larger container set up to support a fruiting plant, then I would leave the blossoms on and begin feeding the plant as if it were a flowering, fruit-producing plant. I have done that with dwarf tomatoes (or "patio" tomatoes) in 3 to 5 gallon tubs and had well developed plants with green fruit set on them when I begin putting them out on the driveway or in the bed around on the south wall of my house in mid-April. Those plants make for great seed saving because there were no pollinators present when the flowers set.

Again, from your post, I cannot tell whether you are growing the Kumato seeding for eventual transplant or if you are growing it already where it will spend the rest of its productive life. I was at a friend's hoop houses yesterday, and he has several houses full of Trust (indeterminate) and Fabulous (determinate) plants in 5-gallon grow bags already up about one foot tall and beginning to flower. In a case like that, I'd say let'r rip!

Bill

I should've pointed out also ... if you are intending to grow your plants so that the early blossoms set fruit indoors, you may want to give the blossoms a bit of a shake when they open, or run a fan (air current) across the plant to ensure good pollination.

Thanks for all your great advice everyone!

Yes, I planted way to early for zone 5 (New resident to MA) - Seeds started Jan 6 (The winter was getting to me) I will start a 2nd batch of seeds at the proper time just in case these plants fail.

The Seeds saved from the Kumato have given me some nice stocky plants grown indoors. Planning to put them in a Earthbox later on as the weather gets warmer. I don't have a greenhouse unfortunately. So this may all turn out to be a loss cause but a lesson learned as this is my first time growing tomatoes. If i get 1 Tomato :) ill be happy.

Sumilea

My Kumato Photo Journal.

Sumilea said: "If i get 1 Tomato :) ill be happy."

Oh no you won't. Getting just one tomato makes it even worse!!! Trust me...

Terry Light
Oak Hill, Virginia

OMG, Sumilea ... you've got the NACK!!! Great looking plants.

Now you should start some more 7 to 8 weeks before you plan to plant out since the ones in your great pictures are ready exactly 2 months to the day from seed planting.

Whatever you did the first time, do it exactly the same the second time. Fantastic looking indoor plants!

And when you feel you're within a week or 10 days of setting them outside permanently, make sure you "harden off" your plants before committing them to the harsh realities of outdoor life.

Bill

Is that snow on the ground in some of the 2/28 photos?

Yes Mr potaohead thats snow indeed. We have had a lot of snow storms in February. The gloomy weather gets to you after while and need something to keep us occupied while trapped indoors.

Sumilea

hoosiercherokee,

I have this yellow currant growing in a 5 gal. bucket in my kitchen right now. I'm using grow lights (2 T12 fluorescent bulbs) untill I can get her outside. The bucket is about 3/4 full with potting mix. I plan on adding more potting mix as the plant gets taller untill the bucket is completely full.

I noticed that there are some small blossoms that have sprouted out of the main stem. Should I pick them off? I don't know if it is wise to try to grow babies yet. I'm not sure if the lighting would be adequate.

I plan to leave the plant in the 5 gal. bucket. When the weather warms up enough I will put her outside.

I planted her on Jan,17th for the same reason sumilea did. Bored, cabin fever, wanted to see if I could grow a tomato plant indoors, what ever. I didn't put too much thought about the timing.
If this works out; I plan on doing it again next year.

I would greatly appreciate any advice.

grb1

LOL grb1! Looks like we have the same problem =). 2 of my plants have flowers now, kinda exciting as this is all new to me and I'm still a tomato newbee. I think i have a little more time before i pot up again either that or it goes straight in to the earth box.

Sumilea

sumilea,

I planted up 3 times untill I finally decided to plant her in the 5 gal. selfwatering bucket that I made.

Maybe we should e-mail each other. Keep close contact. I would love to share pics as the season goes on.

You can go to "My Page" and e-mail me if you wish.

Sure thing grb1! I just changed my profile on gardenweb so my email is visible (would definitely enjoy to see pictures of your indoor garden). I also have the link to my flickr page to keep track of my progress.

I got cabin fever my self. I started plants on Dec 22nd, figuring if it fails, I would still have plenty of time to make up for it.

Here's the tallest of my toms, the roots are as deep as the milk cartons are high.
{{gwi:1290801}}

here is the low workout place that they live
{{gwi:1308357}}

but more on topic:
I don't pinch off the bloosoms, and this the the result
{{gwi:1308360}}
Doesn't seem to be slowing growth at all.

sumilea,

I'll send some pictures of my yellow currant when it reaches the top of the bucket. I'll be up loading my pics to photobucket and flickr to keep documentation of its progress.

elskunkito,

I hope you plan on transplanting those babies to bigger pots. They look like they're doing great, but I would put them in at least 5 gal. buckets.

jmop
grb1

This was a recent discussion a few weeks ago...

Here is a link that might be useful: recent pinching buds thread

After reading all the posts about this subject; IÂve decided to leave the blossoms on and see what happens. Maybe I'll be eating tomatoes by the end of June. I donÂt plan on transplanting it anymore. IÂm going to keep it in the 5 gal. bucket that I made for her.

Since my plant out date is about the end of May; I still have plenty of time before I start all my other seeds.

{{gwi:1308361}}

I live in Sutton MA which is not very far from Marlborough. I won't plant my toms in my garden any earlier than Memorial Day weekend. I got antsy too and started seeds on 3/1 so they will be at least 12 weeks when I plant.

Jeff

I never take them off, i rather take the suckers off to increase the energy used by the plant. Suckers coming between two branches in a 45* angle shall be pinch off. Also, foliage after the blossoms should be pinch off so the energy stays within the blossoms. This will give you more and bigger fruits.

I believe that whats shown on the picture above could very well be a flower cluster coming. But i could be wrong.

See below for a very good site that shows how to pinch a tomato plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Plan Growing Guide.

Thanks a lot everyone! I decided not to pinch the blossoms. I have a question, how long does the blossoms take to bloom? Mine are still buds and its like...3-4 days and hasn't bloomed yet. I just want to see a Yellow flower :)

Sumilea