TheNaturePlanet

who grow vegetables on the balcony don't know: "The dwarf tomato seedlings that have just been planted start to bloom before they reach a height of 10 centimeters. Should the flowers be pinched off?" Is it normal for the flowers to bloom early, and how many times should the flowers be pinched off?

Actually, whether it is normal for dwarf tomatoes to bloom before they reach a height of 10 centimeters depends on specific situations. In some cases, it is normal, so don't panic! For example, varieties specifically designed for potted plants such as "balcony cherry tomatoes" and "mini pearl tomatoes" are naturally "impatient" and are extremely early-maturing varieties. Generally, when they have 5-8 leaves and are 8-12 centimeters tall, flower buds will appear. This is an early-maturing characteristic determined by their genes, just like some people are naturally short, which is a very normal phenomenon. In addition, if we grow tomato seedlings on a warm balcony where the temperature remains above 25°C and the seedlings can get enough sunlight for 8 hours a day, with sufficient light and suitable temperature, the seedlings will have strong photosynthesis and accumulate nutrients quickly, and thus will enter the flowering stage ahead of time. Especially in an indoor environment with heating in autumn and winter, the seedlings are likely to "secretly" bloom early, which is also a normal reaction of environmental ripening.

However, there are also some abnormal situations that we need to be vigilant about! If it is found that the stems of the seedlings are as thin as toothpicks, with a diameter of less than 3 millimeters, and the leaves are thin and small, they are likely to be leggy seedlings or aged seedlings. Leggy seedlings are usually due to excessive watering and insufficient light, resulting in thin and weak stems and elongated internodes. Although they bloom early, their growth is weak, and it is difficult for them to bear fruit later. Aged seedlings are due to excessive water control or a temperature lower than 15°C, with yellow and stiff leaves. The seedlings are forced to "prematurely age" and bloom early to "save their lives". In such a situation, timely rescue is needed! There is also a situation of unbalanced fertilization. If we only use potassium dihydrogen phosphate to irrigate the roots, an excessive amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers will inhibit the absorption of nitrogen, causing the seedlings to stop growing and bloom early. Here is a little tip. The leaves of normally early-blooming seedlings are dark green and shiny, while the leaves of abnormally early-blooming seedlings are small and thin, and the veins are yellow, which is easy to distinguish.

After talking about whether early blooming is normal, let's talk about the most concerned issue of pinching off the flowers. The key to pinching off the flowers is to "observe the condition of the seedlings" and make a decision according to the growth situation of the seedlings. When the flowers are first found to bloom, it is generally at the position of the 3rd to 4th node, that is, when the seedlings are about 10 centimeters tall. If the seedlings are less than 15 centimeters tall and have fewer than 6 leaves at this time, we must be determined to pinch off the whole inflorescence! How to operate specifically? Hold the base of the flower stalk and twist it gently, being careful not to damage the main stem, and keep the growing point to allow it to continue to grow side branches. It's like letting the seedlings "grow their bodies" first and lay a good foundation so that they can bear more fruits in the future.

Also, for different varieties of dwarf tomatoes, the ways of pinching off the flowers are different, so don't take a one-size-fits-all approach! For self-topping varieties like "Dwarf Red Bell", they will automatically stop growing taller when they reach a height of 15-20 centimeters. We only need to pinch off the first batch of flowers, and then it will branch and bloom naturally, which is relatively worry-free. For the dwarf varieties with indeterminate growth like "Mini Sunshine", we need to continuously remove the small inflorescences on the side branches until the main stem reaches a height of more than 20 centimeters, and keep 2-3 inflorescences at the top. In this way, it can grow upward and bear fruits three-dimensionally, resulting in a higher yield.

In general, when dwarf tomatoes bloom within 10 centimeters, in most cases, it is a normal phenomenon due to the variety characteristics or suitable light and temperature. However, if the seedlings are weak and the leaves are yellow, the flowers should be pinched off in a timely manner and fertilizer should be supplemented. The number of times of pinching off the flowers is generally 1-2 times. The core is to see if the stem diameter exceeds 5 millimeters, the leaves are half the size of the palm, and the plant height reaches 15-20 centimeters. When these standards are met, the flowers can be left to bear fruits!

The fun of growing vegetables on the balcony lies in observing the growth rhythm of plants and learning to "talk" to the seedlings. The next time you see the flower buds of your dwarf tomatoes, don't be in a hurry to pinch them off. Judge according to the methods we talked about today. With scientific management, I believe you will soon be able to harvest a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes!