Well, Mr. Dowding....I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical of your method, but you have made a believer out of me!! I don't have a very large veg garden...about 24' X 24'....filled with raised beds that I decided to do this year NO DIG. I just spread a layer of manure and a layer of mushroom soil across the top. I can hardly believe the yield I am getting, and by adding companion planting for pest control, my family and friends all agree that it is the nicest and best producing garden I have ever had. I do very little weeding. It's such a nice problem to have to give food away b/c you can't possibly eat it all!!
I was searching for tips on cucumber and watched this video again. And now I finally understand why we need to take care of side shoots. You explained it so simply and suddenly it was 💡. Thank you
Recently read a trial showing that sideshooting tomatoes marginally decreases yield, so this isn't a yield increaser. What it DOES do, of course, of decrease the risk of mildew in damp climates and give you bigger (but fewer) fruit, as Charles has said. So, if you grow tomatoes in the open in a dry, warm climate, not so important. But if you grow densely in a greenhouse, probably quite important.
Its the same with the skyscrapers. If your limited in space you go higher. The yield can be higher in a Greenhouse cause use the space perfectly. If you are ourside its something else. Second reason is the mildew. Third is the choice to have a lot Tomatos that are smaller or less and bigger ones. Fourth is to get the Tomatos ready to harvest before its to late and to cold. It belongs to which kind of Tomato you want to grow and where you want to grow it. The smaller the type if tomato the less i side-shoot. Cherry-Tomatos outside, I dont sideshoot at all. In the Greenhouse i do it like Charles and I think that makes sense :)
I haven't read any trials, but that is exactly the impression I got. I'm looking of planting tomatoes out in the open this year, so will probably give sideshooting a miss.
Guilty was what I felt everytime I did not use my pruning scissors and just snap of the suckers by hand. I am not alone. Thank you. Respect from Africa 🇿🇦
I was having a really bad morning, Charles, then I remembered to watch one of your videos. It's like balm for the soul. That I also learnt that pinching out side shoots of tomatoes can happen at any time - I thought once the side shoots were thickened you were stuck with them. I'll be out on the plot later for further soul bathing. Thank you.
I swear this explanation within the first 2 minutes, really under the first 2 minutes, of why you should consider picking of the side shoots is gold, succinct and clear 👌
Melanie Brugger Charles's videos are bordering on unintentional ASMR... But I always feel more relaxed and confident in tackling my own garden problems after listening to him! Charles, when it comes to inspiring quiet confidence in one's gardening abilities, you are the best!
For what it's worth I have them in flower pots, seating side by side. Many of them touching each other! In one particular case they share a rectangular pot. No worries! ;-)
Good timing on this video for me. I got my tomatoes going a little late, but I'm up in Scotland, so our growing season is roughly a month behind you lot down South. I'm only needing to begin dealing with side shoots now. This is my first year growing my own so I'm trying to learn a lot and the advice is much appreciated. Thanks Charles.
There are special varieties you can grow for short seasons - here in California, they are called "winter tomatoes" (and yes, they bear tomatoes in winter, but more of a novelty than a crop) - but they are adapted to grow in short-season climates like Siberia, and presumably, Scotland. "Plant a variety that is especially selected to set fruit & grow well in cool weather. These varieties are often called early season, winter, or cool weather tomatoes. ... Our favorites are: Siberia, Silvery Tree Fir, Manitoba, Early Wonder, Mule team, Matina, Jetsetter, Stupice, Paul Robeson, Opalka, Champion, Siletz, Early Girl, Sub Arctic Maxi, Oregon Spring, San Francisco Fog, & Glacier, Northern Lights." www.flowerdalenursery.com/Winter_Tomato.html
Each time when Im depressed not having a farm house I will check out your channel on your fantastic gardening which always never fail to cheer me up... tq
Wonderful post. I always have removed these sideshoots (aka suckers) from my tomatoes. But from time-to-time I'll have an accident and break off the top-most growing tip. Recently, I watched another gardener talking about this same topic and he advised leaving the top-most sideshoot on until the next one develops above it - at which time, he removes that particular sideshoot. His reasoning was that if you happen to break off the main tip, it will take much less time for another sideshoot to develop and become the main stem.
Here in Tennessee Charles, I would have repotted that tomato side shoot you snapped off, waited for roots to grow and then put it back in the garden for a second crop of tomatoes. 😉 Love all your videos you are very very informative!
Charles Dowding yes i agree! Summer is to short in ENG/GER (EU ;-)) to do that. + it's Not really productive. You can easily use every single room you have with tomatoes out of seeds. They don't cost that much that you have to clone it! Greetings from Germany!
@charles dowding: is the risk of getting bitter cucumbers when the male flowers are not pinched out only with not-F1-varieties, or does it apply to any variety? i'm a bit confused and it didn't come out all too clear... and my cucumber in the greenhouse produced male flowers for the 1st meter or so, and it's sideshoot-hell (every leafaxel produced one), while only one cucumber emerged so far. it's reaching the top now, though, so i also need to decide what to do with it. any tips to encourage more fruit? TIA, s.
Good question and I am not 100% sure. This year I am not finding bitterness, sometimes I do, perhaps depending on variety. Your problem sounds variety related, for instance Arvola produces it's main crop from the first node of each sideshoot, instead of from the main stem. At the top, pinch out the main shoot after it passes over the wire, then let two sideshoots become stems to trail down.
@Charles Dowding A good week further i get the impression that while the main stem is full of male blossoms the only female fruiting blossoms appear on the sideshoots after the first leaf node? it's all one big mystery to me...
I couldn’t believe my eyes when at the Aubergine part, you showed 1) the purple flower 2) the flower dying 3) the little aubergine - all at one go. What a blessing because I first aubergine flower just blossomed and died today and I was wondering if it would become a fruit. Yay! Thank u again for your amazing video and your taking the time to share your expertise with us.
At last shorts and sandals Charles! I am in 7a in Pennsylvania and there are times when I feel our climates are erily similar. I am loving my no dig garden and tell everyone who will listen about its merits. Cheers
I am glad this video popped up because I didn't know that you take out the side shoots from cucumbers and eggplants. Also I had no idea about male cucumber flowers producing biter fruits.... I learn something new everyday. Hopefully I will remember it. Thanks Charles.
What varieties are sweeter? A couple that you have good experience with. Thank you so much Charles! P.s. I live in Atlanta-US.... Humid , hot and red clay soil. I think isvzone 7 , 7b or 8...every site is different.
Thanks Charles, it's my first year growing cucumbers and your video has been a great help, loving the string support idea as well. Suppose a little Glastonbury magic may be helping as well 💚👩🌾👨🌾🌱🌱🥗👍
I am so thankful for your video's Charles. I have learned so much just by watching this year. I am a rookie gardener, even though I would be considered a 5th generation farmer if I had many acres, and am glad to have someone as yourself willing to make these videos for us all! Much thanks from Oklahoma :)
As far as aubergines go, the dual cordon system seems to be pretty ubiquitous here in Japan (although I'm not that rigorous with them myself). The standard system is to use two stakes per plant, erected in an X shape, although the crossover point is fairly low. The plant is grown up and then spread out at the crossover point into two main stems. When it is done over a large row, the overall effect is almost like a climbing bean A frame trellis, though inverted. The plant itself takes on a Y shape.
Another masterclasss, beautifully shot, I didn't even bother with tomatoes this year as I'm hopeless at getting in quick before they side shoot. I will give this a go next year in earnest. Thank you for all this info I have learnt so much and have put lots of people your way. Fabulous😎👍🏻🌱
I love the way u explained regards side shoots for aubergine n cucumber which I didn’t know.. I knew about tomato.. thank you look forward to see more updates
Christ, I see this is not a recent video Charles but I found it by random when I've just planted my aubergines, tomatoes and cucumbers in the polytunnel. It couldn't have been more perfectly timed. Also as usual all the great info, thank you again Charles!
Hey Charles I am a farmer in California! I love watching your videos, so thank you. I wonder if we are distant relatives as my last name is "Downin" maybe we come from the same village haha. Awesome work cousin. I am growing a wonderful variety of tomatoes out here among other things. Have a great season man!
Darn, someone left off the 'g'. My son is Jack so clearly a link! Nice to hear from you. I expect your warm summers are good for tomatoes, have a great harvest.
I did wonder about covering them, another film... Best thing is always to pinch out the veryfirst 'king' pepper so others develop faster, then I side shoot only the bottom 12in or so/30cm, allow several branches and tie to a bamboo in the ground.
so jealous. Look at those tomatoes and the green house. In my small terraced house garden I just can't do that. My Roma tomatoes are about a quarter of the size in store bought compost.
"Roma tomatoes...are a determinate variety and require the same growing conditions as other tomato plants. Determinate tomatoes grow only to a specific size, flower, set fruit and do not continue to grow. These "bush" type tomatoes generally grow to 3 to 5 feet tall and bear fruit in about 4 to 6 weeks." If you want your tomatoes to keep growing, use an "indeterminate" variety. But seriously, why grow Roma? Cans are great for Roma. If you grow tomatoes, grow heirlooms and get fantastic variety of flavor and taste. Why waste your space on a commercial variety? Grow Green Zebra, or Costeluto Genovese, or Berkeley tie tie, or...
A good and simple explanation on three very highly consumed vegetables. For the first time I am seeing a video on pruning aubergines in this manner, since my plants have already produced a lot of vegetables, is it too late to prune now? You have also confirmed my desire for setting up a poly house, I could well do with it for the dry and rainy seasons since my cucumbers suffer during this period.
That's interesting about the cucumber bit. I've never had to cut off side shoots or male flowers on mine....Of course I grow them outside in a cattle panel. I may have to try that at some time. Thanks for the informative video!
Good point Jacob and I had meant to add to the introductory para that this is only for cordon plants undercover. Outdoor bush cucumber and tomato plants are easier to allow to sprawl.
I am truly inspired to grow a backyard garden after viewing your videos for the first time! I am still up until after 2 am watching them here in the Bahamas! Very interesting! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and may God Almighty bless you and keep you Mr. Dowding!
You probably clear out your tomatoes from the poly-tunnel in time to get fall/winter stuff planted, and would have way too many green tomatoes than you know what to do with if you didn't pinch off the growing tip in August. However those last few pounds of green tomatoes are useful too, if you had the inclination to process fruit. You could let the tomatoes continue to produce fruit that would never ripen in time and then pick the green fruit when you take out the vines. You can use green tomatoes to make salsa verde. Very tasty, nice as a healthy dip for tortilla chips, and as a sauce with other Mexican cuisine. If you can the sauce you can enjoy it until the next tomato season. I only made a couple batches of salsa verde last autumn, and I wish I made more because I was eating the stuff daily all winter! You might want to let one tomato plant keep going this season, and make a pot of salsa verde to try fresh.
Charles Dowding i wish no weed and big space like yours,but i stay close to the beach 2km,my garden just 4meters square and the water is containe of calcure,so a bit tricky but never give up cause gardening for me is like meditation☺
I.learned take of the same down part of the tomatoes for.make more strong. Because same part take nutrients etc,...still. Learning, my tomatoes still growing! Tanks fir sharing!
Thank you for sharing this method with us; it is wonderful to see. May I ask you Charles if the floor of your wood and glass greenhouse is also native soil topped with compost?
Thank you so much for your wonderful videos! This is the second year we are growing cucumbers and this year they are a bit bitter. I was wondering that if I got rid of the male flowers, then how would the female set? Thank you and have a wonderful summer season in your beautiful and bountiful garden!
Hi Charles, thanks for generously sharing your knowledge and experiments with us. I’ve learned heaps from your videos and this is the most productive our vegetable garden has ever been. With regards to picking off the side shoots on tomato plants, would you treat different varieties the same way? I recently planted a couple of indeterminate and semi-determinate varieties. Determinate varieties are apparently bushing tomatoes. So do I still take off the side shoots? Thank you ever so much. 😀
Great to hear Ivy and actually no - you have noticed the difference and semi determinate or non-determinate varieties are indeed to grow as bushes, without any side-shooting. I call indeterminate tomatoes "cordon".
Very interesting! I have never heard of pollination of cucumbers being a potential bitterness cause. I thought always that if they are not pollinated they won't produce at all!
Just some varieties grow bitter fruit if pollinated from their own male flowers, I had a bad experience of it once, which prompted me to mention it. However that was in 1983, variety Telegraph, and I wish not to have said it on the video as it's pretty rare now.
Hello. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of gardening. I have learned enough to increase my confidence in both the container gardening effort, and hope to have a raised bed garden in the back yard, if my son can help me get started. I have a question about the cucumbers. Non F1, refers to something that apparently is or is not a hybrid? cf. to an heirloom? When you take off the male flowers, to avoid the bitter taste developing, how do the female flowers get pollinated if there are no insects in the closed environment? I see people using artificial means with paint brushes, etc. But you seem to be just allowing the female flower to go along on her own. Last year, in containers, my cucumbers produced abundantly, outside, but they did not taste good and they were not juicy. Any clarification is appreciated, to help me be a better gardener this year! Thanks.
Mary, F1 does mean hybrid, not heirloom! And maybe you are short of insects where you live because you should not need otherwise to hand pollinate cucumbers, or tomatoes et cetera
Thank you Charles, you have just answered my question as to whether to remove male flowers on cucumbers, I'm assuming this is for all varieties grown undercover.
Such a great channel. BBC gardening website says that male flowers should not be picked out for outdoor varieties, as the fruit will not set. Is this true? It also says that outdoor varieties can be left to trail across the ground. Thanks!
Great simple explanation of side-shooting! Thank you. I am wondering about the cucumber flowers. I'm attempting to grow them outside--no tunnel or greenhouse here--and hadn't heard to remove the male flowers. Aren't they necessary for pollination in order to produce fruit? Also, is this idea to remove male flowers true of other plants like courgettes/zucchini?
Ah! So Adam has been giving you his Syrian cucumbers as well! I'm growing some for seed for him but he didn't tell me the fruit was quiet so short! Flavour of them is nice though.
Thanks a lot for your garden videos, especially closed captions or subtitles functions are always on because I am deaf. As my husband bought me gift of 3 books written by you few months ago and I am learning on the way, it's great help to me, for no one around me could teach me while I am just a big city grown up lady with zero garden knowledge living in countryside town. I am interested in those fruit trees you grown in your garden, I wonder how tall they are, how wide(how much space between 2 fruit trees) you plant each tree in one line, is it OK to grow vegetables around those fruit tree line? I am living in Tasmania of Australia, in winter now I want to move some fruits trees in a line and prune them with managed height. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks again!
Tasmania sounds lovely and thanks for your message. Decide how large you want the trees and choose rootstock accordingly, see my chapter in Organic Gardening. Say M9 for smaller trees or for ones like mine, M26. You can grow veg the first 2 or 3 years until the tree roots take most moisture in the summer. Winter veg like garlic can work. Summer prune, January for you, to keep growth at a size you like.
I love all of your videos. They are so informative and this channel has become my go to for anything UK based growing. Can’t get enough. I wonder if I can be cheeky and ask for some advice? I have always used a tomato feed once the plants begin trussing up. I grow my toms in pots in my greenhouse. Do I need to feed them a liquid tom feed or no? I am toying with the idea of creating a no dig greenhouse but I have a very modest sized one and don’t know if it will be a good use of the space to do so. (Continuation of the question:) if I did go no dig in the greenhouse would I have to use tomato feed also? I keep everything as organic as possible but I think this is my nearest point to failing that.
It's a good question and yes you need to feed container-grown tomatoes. They are hungry plants if you want a decent yield. However in soil I find that a decent mulch of compost holds enough food PLUS it helps to mobilise food that was not previously available in the soil, by increasing biological activity. However your greenhouse is small so you would not fit many plants in there!
Hi Charles, how are you doing ? You must be bery busy this time of year, just curious if you like growing sungold Cherry tomatoes, if not what is your favorite cherry tomatoe to grow ?
I’m interested to know whether this applies to gherkin cucumbers as well. Obviously one wants many and small for the pickling! Does that mean one leaves the side shoots in to get more flowering stems? Absolutely love these videos. I’ve learnt so much... and was lucky enough to have around 40 barrow loads of home made compost ready to go this year ;-)
Ah! I did not know the growing on the ground part! You have no idea how excited I am that you replied to my message - I wrote to Blue Peter over and over as a kid and never had a reply :-) What I didn’t confess to is that I had 40+ barrow loads of compost because we didn’t grow any veg for the past 10 years in our garden... so the compost heap has been getting bigger and bigger all that time. Like a compost leviathan. Interestingly I was surprised to discover that our goat manure (bedded on hemp aubios) was relatively un-decomposed even though it has been over five years since we last had goats. We are archaeologists by training so I had a fascinating few days looking at the compost[soil] horizons within the heap... Many items quite well preserved in the anaerobic layers. I also discovered that I probably covered the heap with a blue tarpaulin at some point and forgot about it... Which has, of course, turned into catastrophically multitudinous tiny blue plastic micro fragments. I really now appreciate the ocean’s problem... Anyway, here’s hoping the gherkins work! I’ll send you a jar of pickles if they work out nicely :-)
@@danleighton How nice to read, and sorry about your blue plastic. Even your less decomposed goat manure can serve as mulch. I do look forward to a jar of pickles!
Charles Dowding I am amused that you are apologising for my own idiocy with the plastic. Very generous of you! Thank you for the tip on the mulch. I have turned it in with the remaining compost to rot down for the autumn compost dressing. I suspect it will get itself sorted by then. I shall remember the pickle delivery - never fear. I am growing dill according to your instructions as well. A rather splendid polish seed vendor sent them over to me. They have a divine smell. Best wishes and I hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
Mr. Dowding -- You are a wonderful inspiration. Do you recommend training veg this way if they will not be undercover? I am trying it this year with tomato, cucumber and eggplant/aubergine in my open-air regular garden in New York state/USDA zone 5/6. I doubt I'll be harvesting eggplant through October, but we shall see! Thank you for all your videos.
Hi Charles, I hope you're good! I'm wondering how the pollination will occur for the cucumbers if you snap out the male flowers. I started taking out all the male flowers here at home, but then got very worried that pollination would not take place. Should I go on and do it anyways? Many thanks!
Mr. Dowding. I just love the simplicity of your greenhouse,( Do you have any Japanese in your DNA? ) just wood and glass. I have a northfaced garage to an sky open underground subway station in Brooklyn. I dream about the idea of making one just like yours.
Charles I would love to hear why leaving two stems for Aubergines is better then one for tomatoes. Both are from the same family so would think the same principles apply. Thanks!
Sir, I did not get you, you take away the male flowers of cucumber, so these are not needed to form fruit. The female flower alone can form fruit. Bitter fruit, I thought would happen if the plant is stressed with lack of water or when the fruit is over ripe Can you clarify sir Thanks for another great video
Yes fruit can form with only female flowers. For some varieties like Telegraph, if the female flowers are pollinated from the males, the flavour turns bitter, but I don't know why. It happens only on some varieties and yes it's confusing, wish I had not mentioned it!
Another great, informative video, thank you, Charles. Could you tell me more about using the string as a support? I've been seeing it done more and more but don't know how exactly it's done. Thank you! Kindest regards from South Africa.
Charles, I heard you said to get rid of the male flowers on cucumbers? Doesn't the female need pollination? I had a sour cucumber a couple seasons ago. I thought it was cross pollination from squash.
I don't understand about how to leave only two shoots on the aubergine plant (you said the German guy used it). How do you decide which stems to keep and when do you reduce the plant. thank you, great channel. I'm from Belgium BTW
I have always wondered what snapping side-shoots meant and how it was done. Thanks so much for finally enlightening me! However I am very intrigued by these cords you use for the plants to climb. I always use sticks. How do you fix them to the ground? Robin
Charles, have you ever tried letting cucumbers creep up the tomato trellis? I am planting tomatoes now in the cool climate of the Adelaide Hills, AU. I have just found out that they make good companions so was wondering if you let them crawl on the tomatoe plants?
Ah no Caroline!! You write " I have just found out that they make good companions" It's too vague!! Evidence? I hear this "good" and "bad" companions so much, and mostly it's wrong. 'Plants like companionship' is safer. Possibly, ridge cucumbers near cordon tomatoes. Root systems not too close though.
Do you stake the ropes you use for your vining crops? or just bury them....and how deep? Maybe you can put this on your list for tutorial for next year. Love your channel!
I should have explained this, already answered it - Simply, with a knot on the end, placed under the rootball at planting time, the roots hold the strings tight in the soil. Thanks for the request. So many possible videos. But Edward will be at university...
DaisyIdes I have been wondering the same! Charles - the root and weight of the soil hold the string/twine in place? I was thinking it had to be staked. Thank you!
Honestly, this channel is the best gardening channel on UA-cam! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge!
And thanks to you as well!
I agree. I just wish Charles and I lived in the same climate.
Well, Mr. Dowding....I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical of your method, but you have made a believer out of me!! I don't have a very large veg garden...about 24' X 24'....filled with raised beds that I decided to do this year NO DIG. I just spread a layer of manure and a layer of mushroom soil across the top. I can hardly believe the yield I am getting, and by adding companion planting for pest control, my family and friends all agree that it is the nicest and best producing garden I have ever had. I do very little weeding. It's such a nice problem to have to give food away b/c you can't possibly eat it all!!
Ah thanks for letting me know, and what a great outcome.
M Schmidt ax
I was searching for tips on cucumber and watched this video again. And now I finally understand why we need to take care of side shoots. You explained it so simply and suddenly it was 💡. Thank you
Recently read a trial showing that sideshooting tomatoes marginally decreases yield, so this isn't a yield increaser. What it DOES do, of course, of decrease the risk of mildew in damp climates and give you bigger (but fewer) fruit, as Charles has said. So, if you grow tomatoes in the open in a dry, warm climate, not so important. But if you grow densely in a greenhouse, probably quite important.
Its the same with the skyscrapers. If your limited in space you go higher. The yield can be higher in a Greenhouse cause use the space perfectly. If you are ourside its something else. Second reason is the mildew. Third is the choice to have a lot Tomatos that are smaller or less and bigger ones. Fourth is to get the Tomatos ready to harvest before its to late and to cold. It belongs to which kind of Tomato you want to grow and where you want to grow it. The smaller the type if tomato the less i side-shoot. Cherry-Tomatos outside, I dont sideshoot at all. In the Greenhouse i do it like Charles and I think that makes sense :)
I live in tropics. And I almost never prune. With all year growing season, so yeah, 1 plant can produce alot of tomatoes.
I haven't read any trials, but that is exactly the impression I got. I'm looking of planting tomatoes out in the open this year, so will probably give sideshooting a miss.
Guilty was what I felt everytime I did not use my pruning scissors and just snap of the suckers by hand. I am not alone. Thank you.
Respect from Africa 🇿🇦
Gah yes that is a great comment Justus
I was having a really bad morning, Charles, then I remembered to watch one of your videos. It's like balm for the soul. That I also learnt that pinching out side shoots of tomatoes can happen at any time - I thought once the side shoots were thickened you were stuck with them. I'll be out on the plot later for further soul bathing. Thank you.
Ah cheers Dan, amazing I can help like that, and great that you feel confident.
I swear this explanation within the first 2 minutes, really under the first 2 minutes, of why you should consider picking of the side shoots is gold, succinct and clear 👌
Thanks so much :)
Charles was 3 miles from Corbyn at Glastonbury and he still checked on his tomatoes. That's dedication.
Priorities! thanks for your comment Simeon
JC of course has his allotment but probably it needs some TLC and your steady hand.
The allotment is just fine thanks for asking.
Your videos are so amazing! Very informative, to the point and so relaxing. Your garden just looks like heaven to me. Greetings from Germany
Thankyou Melanie, especially that you find the videos relaxing, gardening is that. Even when one "works hard".
Melanie Brugger Charles's videos are bordering on unintentional ASMR... But I always feel more relaxed and confident in tackling my own garden problems after listening to him! Charles, when it comes to inspiring quiet confidence in one's gardening abilities, you are the best!
CJ Fuller thanks so much, it's what I want to impart, confidence and a desire to try some new approaches
The most important lesson i got from this, is that cucumber and tomatoes can be grown relatively close by...
For what it's worth I have them in flower pots, seating side by side. Many of them touching each other! In one particular case they share a rectangular pot. No worries! ;-)
I so appreciate the smile and the deep care and knowledge you show for your plants. Super lovely. Thanks!
Thanks Alyne
Good timing on this video for me. I got my tomatoes going a little late, but I'm up in Scotland, so our growing season is roughly a month behind you lot down South. I'm only needing to begin dealing with side shoots now. This is my first year growing my own so I'm trying to learn a lot and the advice is much appreciated. Thanks Charles.
nice to hear and best of luck
There are special varieties you can grow for short seasons - here in California, they are called "winter tomatoes" (and yes, they bear tomatoes in winter, but more of a novelty than a crop) - but they are adapted to grow in short-season climates like Siberia, and presumably, Scotland.
"Plant a variety that is especially selected to set fruit & grow well in cool weather. These varieties are often called early season, winter, or cool weather tomatoes. ...
Our favorites are: Siberia, Silvery Tree Fir, Manitoba, Early Wonder, Mule team, Matina, Jetsetter, Stupice, Paul Robeson, Opalka, Champion, Siletz, Early Girl, Sub Arctic Maxi, Oregon Spring, San Francisco Fog, & Glacier, Northern Lights." www.flowerdalenursery.com/Winter_Tomato.html
Each time when Im depressed not having a farm house I will check out your channel on your fantastic gardening which always never fail to cheer me up... tq
Happy to cheer you!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig tqvm
Wonderful post. I always have removed these sideshoots (aka suckers) from my tomatoes. But from time-to-time I'll have an accident and break off the top-most growing tip. Recently, I watched another gardener talking about this same topic and he advised leaving the top-most sideshoot on until the next one develops above it - at which time, he removes that particular sideshoot.
His reasoning was that if you happen to break off the main tip, it will take much less time for another sideshoot to develop and become the main stem.
Good point Ron :)
Here in Tennessee Charles, I would have repotted that tomato side shoot you snapped off, waited for roots to grow and then put it back in the garden for a second crop of tomatoes. 😉
Love all your videos you are very very informative!
Thanks Penny and you have such a long summer! Some people do that rooting of side-shoots here, but earlier in the season.
Charles Dowding yes i agree!
Summer is to short in ENG/GER (EU ;-)) to do that.
+ it's Not really productive. You can easily use every single room you have with tomatoes out of seeds. They don't cost that much that you have to clone it!
Greetings from Germany!
@charles dowding: is the risk of getting bitter cucumbers when the male flowers are not pinched out only with not-F1-varieties, or does it apply to any variety? i'm a bit confused and it didn't come out all too clear... and my cucumber in the greenhouse produced male flowers for the 1st meter or so, and it's sideshoot-hell (every leafaxel produced one), while only one cucumber emerged so far. it's reaching the top now, though, so i also need to decide what to do with it. any tips to encourage more fruit? TIA, s.
Good question and I am not 100% sure. This year I am not finding bitterness, sometimes I do, perhaps depending on variety.
Your problem sounds variety related, for instance Arvola produces it's main crop from the first node of each sideshoot, instead of from the main stem.
At the top, pinch out the main shoot after it passes over the wire, then let two sideshoots become stems to trail down.
@Charles Dowding A good week further i get the impression that while the main stem is full of male blossoms the only female fruiting blossoms appear on the sideshoots after the first leaf node? it's all one big mystery to me...
I had no idea about male flowers in cukes! And they have the side shoots as well! Good to know! Thank you
I couldn’t believe my eyes when at the Aubergine part, you showed 1) the purple flower 2) the flower dying 3) the little aubergine - all at one go. What a blessing because I first aubergine flower just blossomed and died today and I was wondering if it would become a fruit. Yay! Thank u again for your amazing video and your taking the time to share your expertise with us.
So nice to hear and go you, aubergines soon!
At last shorts and sandals Charles! I am in 7a in Pennsylvania and there are times when I feel our climates are erily similar. I am loving my no dig garden and tell everyone who will listen about its merits. Cheers
Thanks FJ! Yes briefly in shorts..
I am glad this video popped up because I didn't know that you take out the side shoots from cucumbers and eggplants. Also I had no idea about male cucumber flowers producing biter fruits.... I learn something new everyday. Hopefully I will remember it. Thanks Charles.
Hi Cami and thanks. The male flowers thing is only for cordon cucumbers, does not apply to those growing outside on the ground
Oh, I see! Thank you. I grew some cucumbers a couple of years ago but were bitter. Any idea why?
Maybe variety
What varieties are sweeter? A couple that you have good experience with. Thank you so much Charles!
P.s. I live in Atlanta-US.... Humid , hot and red clay soil. I think isvzone 7 , 7b or 8...every site is different.
@@camicri4263 for ridge cucumber, Tanja and La Diva. For cordon cucumber, passandra and Carmen both F1. Not sure if available in US though
Loving your videos, hats off to your camera man - doing a great job with those closeups
Thanks Charles, it's my first year growing cucumbers and your video has been a great help, loving the string support idea as well. Suppose a little Glastonbury magic may be helping as well 💚👩🌾👨🌾🌱🌱🥗👍
I am so thankful for your video's Charles. I have learned so much just by watching this year. I am a rookie gardener, even though I would be considered a 5th generation farmer if I had many acres, and am glad to have someone as yourself willing to make these videos for us all! Much thanks from Oklahoma :)
Thankyou for writing that Reanna, enjoy the journey from rookie to experienced!
A friend suggests to make those cut sideshoots into a fermented tea with comfrey and use as a tea as garden anti fungal spray.
As far as aubergines go, the dual cordon system seems to be pretty ubiquitous here in Japan (although I'm not that rigorous with them myself). The standard system is to use two stakes per plant, erected in an X shape, although the crossover point is fairly low. The plant is grown up and then spread out at the crossover point into two main stems. When it is done over a large row, the overall effect is almost like a climbing bean A frame trellis, though inverted. The plant itself takes on a Y shape.
Fascinating, I love this international feedback.
I'm literally going out to my poly tunnel to side shoot tomatoes, cucumbers, and aubergines. Great video! I've learned a lot :)
Another masterclasss, beautifully shot, I didn't even bother with tomatoes this year as I'm hopeless at getting in quick before they side shoot. I will give this a go next year in earnest. Thank you for all this info I have learnt so much and have put lots of people your way. Fabulous😎👍🏻🌱
Lovely to hear thanks Tina. Have a go next year and start side-shooting early!
I love the way u explained regards side shoots for aubergine n cucumber which I didn’t know.. I knew about tomato.. thank you look forward to see more updates
My pleasure Vanta 😊
I like your video mainly because - you dont waste words. All your words are informative.
Christ, I see this is not a recent video Charles but I found it by random when I've just planted my aubergines, tomatoes and cucumbers in the polytunnel. It couldn't have been more perfectly timed. Also as usual all the great info, thank you again Charles!
That is awesome timing Basko and good luck with those plantings
I love your videos ,you give me very precise and complete information
You are a talented teacher,thank you
Many thanks Dello, nice to hear
Hey Charles I am a farmer in California! I love watching your videos, so thank you. I wonder if we are distant relatives as my last name is "Downin" maybe we come from the same village haha. Awesome work cousin. I am growing a wonderful variety of tomatoes out here among other things. Have a great season man!
Darn, someone left off the 'g'. My son is Jack so clearly a link! Nice to hear from you.
I expect your warm summers are good for tomatoes, have a great harvest.
The day I stop learning should be the day I stop gardening. I learned from watching this, thank you very much.
Wonderful comment PPS, I do agree
Thank you Charles? just what I needed to know. I also grow sweet peppers but last year they got out of hand and I wondered how to manage them too.
I did wonder about covering them, another film... Best thing is always to pinch out the veryfirst 'king' pepper so others develop faster, then I side shoot only the bottom 12in or so/30cm, allow several branches and tie to a bamboo in the ground.
so jealous. Look at those tomatoes and the green house. In my small terraced house garden I just can't do that. My Roma tomatoes are about a quarter of the size in store bought compost.
"Roma tomatoes...are a determinate variety and require the same growing conditions as other tomato plants.
Determinate tomatoes grow only to a specific size, flower, set fruit and do not continue to grow. These "bush" type tomatoes generally grow to 3 to 5 feet tall and bear fruit in about 4 to 6 weeks."
If you want your tomatoes to keep growing, use an "indeterminate" variety. But seriously, why grow Roma? Cans are great for Roma. If you grow tomatoes, grow heirlooms and get fantastic variety of flavor and taste. Why waste your space on a commercial variety? Grow Green Zebra, or Costeluto Genovese, or Berkeley tie tie, or...
Hablo español, no entiendo nada pero me encanta ver el video. Me encantan los huertos😍. Costa Rica pura vida!
Gracias Cindy. Sorry I don't speak Spanish! Glad you like the video.
No se necesita hablar Ingles. Los videos son muy ilustrativos.
A good and simple explanation on three very highly consumed vegetables. For the first time I am seeing a video on pruning aubergines in this manner, since my plants have already produced a lot of vegetables, is it too late to prune now? You have also confirmed my desire for setting up a poly house, I could well do with it for the dry and rainy seasons since my cucumbers suffer during this period.
Possibly still time to prune, if more growing season ahead, enjoy your polyhouse
your garden looks amazing!
Wow! I'm learning so much!! That male-female-pollination-producing-bitter-fruit is noted! Hehe 😍
It contradicts every other website and "expert" that say all cucurbit female flowers must be pollinated to produce a fruit.
Thanks Charles
I may follow the two stem approach to pruning aubergines.
Best wishes
Mike
Thank you Mr. Dowding for sharing your knowledge
That's interesting about the cucumber bit. I've never had to cut off side shoots or male flowers on mine....Of course I grow them outside in a cattle panel. I may have to try that at some time. Thanks for the informative video!
Good point Jacob and I had meant to add to the introductory para that this is only for cordon plants undercover. Outdoor bush cucumber and tomato plants are easier to allow to sprawl.
That makes more sense now! I always have trimmed side shoots off even my outdoor tomatoes, but cucumbers have always sprawled...
this is a tutorial I really needed. Thank you very much for sharing this information. Have a marvellous day
I am truly inspired to grow a backyard garden after viewing your videos for the first time! I am still up until after 2 am watching them here in the Bahamas! Very interesting! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and may God Almighty bless you and keep you Mr. Dowding!
Cheers Portia
Nice work! Would love to see that string under the rootball method in a video! I love the long aubergine variety.. Tender skin for fast cooking!
Thanks N Alt. See string under the rootball at 43s here ua-cam.com/video/54deYPBqeAQ/v-deo.html
Fantastic video! Thanks Charles ! Very informative
Good to hear thanks.
Your greenhouse is beautiful. I wish I had one like that one day.
You probably clear out your tomatoes from the poly-tunnel in time to get fall/winter stuff planted, and would have way too many green tomatoes than you know what to do with if you didn't pinch off the growing tip in August. However those last few pounds of green tomatoes are useful too, if you had the inclination to process fruit. You could let the tomatoes continue to produce fruit that would never ripen in time and then pick the green fruit when you take out the vines. You can use green tomatoes to make salsa verde. Very tasty, nice as a healthy dip for tortilla chips, and as a sauce with other Mexican cuisine. If you can the sauce you can enjoy it until the next tomato season. I only made a couple batches of salsa verde last autumn, and I wish I made more because I was eating the stuff daily all winter! You might want to let one tomato plant keep going this season, and make a pot of salsa verde to try fresh.
Nice thought, sounds tasty!
Always time to learn.
Such enjoyable videos to watch thanks Charles
Very welcome
Always enjoyable to watch.
Thanks Gerry
I wacth all your videos, informative, seam that you have strong conexion with your plant. Thanks 4 your tips. Greeting from indonesia
Thanks na'ah qo elok, may your garden grow fast! And less weeds.
Charles Dowding i wish no weed and big space like yours,but i stay close to the beach 2km,my garden just 4meters square and the water is containe of calcure,so a bit tricky but never give up cause gardening for me is like meditation☺
Love your Chang shirt!!🤍🤍
I.learned take of the same down part of the tomatoes for.make more strong. Because same part take nutrients etc,...still. Learning, my tomatoes still growing! Tanks fir sharing!
Very enjoyable video
Thank you 😇👍😅
Thanks for the tips! And Cool T-Shirt 😎😊👍
Thailand!
10th August. Putting that in my diary :) Thank you, always great, clear advice for my little bit of gardening.
Cheers Chaz! Informative as always.
Thank you for sharing this method with us; it is wonderful to see. May I ask you Charles if the floor of your wood and glass greenhouse is also native soil topped with compost?
Yes absolutely, soil with compost on top, much easier and more successful
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you very much!
Great Garden and life! Eat local and peace!
Enjoy this video.keep.more small growers video coming.
I like to keep one or two side shoots as a back up if the mainstem gets damaged
Hello beautiful video again
Great to watch and learn from. Thank you 😀
thank you for sharing have a blessed day
Thank you so much for your wonderful videos! This is the second year we are growing cucumbers and this year they are a bit bitter. I was wondering that if I got rid of the male flowers, then how would the female set? Thank you and have a wonderful summer season in your beautiful and bountiful garden!
It could be that, or try a different variety.
Thanks for your comment Assieh.
Thank you l love to watch and learn from you
Cheers Angela
Hi Charles, thanks for generously sharing your knowledge and experiments with us. I’ve learned heaps from your videos and this is the most productive our vegetable garden has ever been.
With regards to picking off the side shoots on tomato plants, would you treat different varieties the same way? I recently planted a couple of indeterminate and semi-determinate varieties. Determinate varieties are apparently bushing tomatoes. So do I still take off the side shoots? Thank you ever so much. 😀
Great to hear Ivy and actually no - you have noticed the difference and semi determinate or non-determinate varieties are indeed to grow as bushes, without any side-shooting. I call indeterminate tomatoes "cordon".
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you. I’ll have to read more about how to tell the difference if I happen to get volunteer ones in future.
Wow look at thr flowers on those guys
Very interesting! I have never heard of pollination of cucumbers being a potential bitterness cause. I thought always that if they are not pollinated they won't produce at all!
Yes Aloel, the question is which pollen
Could you please elaborate? This is a very important and interesting topic, and I am sure I am not the only one curious about these things :)
Just some varieties grow bitter fruit if pollinated from their own male flowers, I had a bad experience of it once, which prompted me to mention it. However that was in 1983, variety Telegraph, and I wish not to have said it on the video as it's pretty rare now.
ok, I understand now :) Thank you for the time you put in replying promptly :)
Hello. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of gardening. I have learned enough to increase my confidence in both the container gardening effort, and hope to have a raised bed garden in the back yard, if my son can help me get started. I have a question about the cucumbers. Non F1, refers to something that apparently is or is not a hybrid? cf. to an heirloom? When you take off the male flowers, to avoid the bitter taste developing, how do the female flowers get pollinated if there are no insects in the closed environment? I see people using artificial means with paint brushes, etc. But you seem to be just allowing the female flower to go along on her own. Last year, in containers, my cucumbers produced abundantly, outside, but they did not taste good and they were not juicy. Any clarification is appreciated, to help me be a better gardener this year! Thanks.
Mary, F1 does mean hybrid, not heirloom! And maybe you are short of insects where you live because you should not need otherwise to hand pollinate cucumbers, or tomatoes et cetera
Hola Sr. Charles !!! Me gusta mucho su vídeo!!!! Mi duda es como sujetar las cuerdas al suelo? Muchas gracias y felicidades 😘
Vea el video Una escalada saludable, sobre el uso de cuerdas. Gracias.
Thank you soo much mate this is a big help mate
I use two leaders, and definitely get more fruit then a single stem plant...
Good to hear
Thank you Charles, you have just answered my question as to whether to remove male flowers on cucumbers, I'm assuming this is for all varieties grown undercover.
Yes Karin, under cover and not ridge cucumbers
Thank you!
Such a great channel. BBC gardening website says that male flowers should not be picked out for outdoor varieties, as the fruit will not set. Is this true? It also says that outdoor varieties can be left to trail across the ground. Thanks!
Thanks for the info and yes correct in both cases :
Aubergines, like peppers and tomatoes, have perfect flowers, and self-pollinate.
Thanks Alan
thanks for your help 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Great simple explanation of side-shooting! Thank you. I am wondering about the cucumber flowers. I'm attempting to grow them outside--no tunnel or greenhouse here--and hadn't heard to remove the male flowers. Aren't they necessary for pollination in order to produce fruit?
Also, is this idea to remove male flowers true of other plants like courgettes/zucchini?
Glad it was helpful and no worries about outdoor cucumbers and zucchini. All flowers good.
Ah! So Adam has been giving you his Syrian cucumbers as well! I'm growing some for seed for him but he didn't tell me the fruit was quiet so short! Flavour of them is nice though.
Well Kev my seeds were a present from Sarah, I agree they are very small, and tasty, and some call them Lebanese cucumber
Thanks for making that!
Thanks a lot for your garden videos, especially closed captions or subtitles functions are always on because I am deaf. As my husband bought me gift of 3 books written by you few months ago and I am learning on the way, it's great help to me, for no one around me could teach me while I am just a big city grown up lady with zero garden knowledge living in countryside town. I am interested in those fruit trees you grown in your garden, I wonder how tall they are, how wide(how much space between 2 fruit trees) you plant each tree in one line, is it OK to grow vegetables around those fruit tree line? I am living in Tasmania of Australia, in winter now I want to move some fruits trees in a line and prune them with managed height. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks again!
Tasmania sounds lovely and thanks for your message.
Decide how large you want the trees and choose rootstock accordingly, see my chapter in Organic Gardening. Say M9 for smaller trees or for ones like mine, M26.
You can grow veg the first 2 or 3 years until the tree roots take most moisture in the summer. Winter veg like garlic can work.
Summer prune, January for you, to keep growth at a size you like.
I love how on your side of the world an eggplant is called Aubergine
Yes and vice versa!
I love all of your videos. They are so informative and this channel has become my go to for anything UK based growing. Can’t get enough. I wonder if I can be cheeky and ask for some advice? I have always used a tomato feed once the plants begin trussing up. I grow my toms in pots in my greenhouse. Do I need to feed them a liquid tom feed or no? I am toying with the idea of creating a no dig greenhouse but I have a very modest sized one and don’t know if it will be a good use of the space to do so. (Continuation of the question:) if I did go no dig in the greenhouse would I have to use tomato feed also? I keep everything as organic as possible but I think this is my nearest point to failing that.
It's a good question and yes you need to feed container-grown tomatoes. They are hungry plants if you want a decent yield.
However in soil I find that a decent mulch of compost holds enough food PLUS it helps to mobilise food that was not previously available in the soil, by increasing biological activity.
However your greenhouse is small so you would not fit many plants in there!
Charles Dowding thank you so much for getting back to me. Perfect answer. I’ll have to go and get some feed tomorrow then . Thanks again.
i did not know that eggplants were also called au-ber-gine =) Thank you!
Haha yes and vice versa for me!
Amazing tips. How cucumbers get pollinated if male flowers are removed? I don't get it.
Thanks, it's a good question!
Hi Charles, how are you doing ? You must be bery busy this time of year, just curious if you like growing sungold Cherry tomatoes, if not what is your favorite cherry tomatoe to grow ?
Thanks and yes I am growing Sungold, still the best!
I’m interested to know whether this applies to gherkin cucumbers as well. Obviously one wants many and small for the pickling! Does that mean one leaves the side shoots in to get more flowering stems? Absolutely love these videos. I’ve learnt so much... and was lucky enough to have around 40 barrow loads of home made compost ready to go this year ;-)
Sounds amazing Dan!
Yes it's different for gherkins which are better grown on the ground and allowed to sideshoot everywhere, as you intimate.
Ah! I did not know the growing on the ground part! You have no idea how excited I am that you replied to my message - I wrote to Blue Peter over and over as a kid and never had a reply :-)
What I didn’t confess to is that I had 40+ barrow loads of compost because we didn’t grow any veg for the past 10 years in our garden... so the compost heap has been getting bigger and bigger all that time. Like a compost leviathan. Interestingly I was surprised to discover that our goat manure (bedded on hemp aubios) was relatively un-decomposed even though it has been over five years since we last had goats. We are archaeologists by training so I had a fascinating few days looking at the compost[soil] horizons within the heap... Many items quite well preserved in the anaerobic layers. I also discovered that I probably covered the heap with a blue tarpaulin at some point and forgot about it... Which has, of course, turned into catastrophically multitudinous tiny blue plastic micro fragments. I really now appreciate the ocean’s problem...
Anyway, here’s hoping the gherkins work! I’ll send you a jar of pickles if they work out nicely :-)
@@danleighton How nice to read, and sorry about your blue plastic. Even your less decomposed goat manure can serve as mulch.
I do look forward to a jar of pickles!
Charles Dowding I am amused that you are apologising for my own idiocy with the plastic. Very generous of you! Thank you for the tip on the mulch. I have turned it in with the remaining compost to rot down for the autumn compost dressing. I suspect it will get itself sorted by then. I shall remember the pickle delivery - never fear. I am growing dill according to your instructions as well. A rather splendid polish seed vendor sent them over to me. They have a divine smell. Best wishes and I hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
Mr. Dowding -- You are a wonderful inspiration. Do you recommend training veg this way if they will not be undercover? I am trying it this year with tomato, cucumber and eggplant/aubergine in my open-air regular garden in New York state/USDA zone 5/6. I doubt I'll be harvesting eggplant through October, but we shall see! Thank you for all your videos.
Depends whether you have strong supports above to tie strings to, good luck
Hi Charles, I hope you're good! I'm wondering how the pollination will occur for the cucumbers if you snap out the male flowers. I started taking out all the male flowers here at home, but then got very worried that pollination would not take place. Should I go on and do it anyways? Many thanks!
Yes it does is all I can say, not sure how that works!
Mr. Dowding. I just love the simplicity of your greenhouse,( Do you have any Japanese in your DNA? ) just wood and glass. I have a northfaced garage to an sky open underground subway station in Brooklyn. I dream about the idea of making one just like yours.
It's lovely to think of a cedar greenhouse opposite a subway in Brooklyn, best of luck with that. I have no Japanese family!
Charles I would love to hear why leaving two stems for Aubergines is better then one for tomatoes. Both are from the same family so would think the same principles apply. Thanks!
Potatoes are same family too Eric! Different speed of growth and space taken.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Agreed! Perhaps also disease pressures that differ even between the Solanacea family.
Sir, I did not get you, you take away the male flowers of cucumber, so these are not needed to form fruit. The female flower alone can form fruit.
Bitter fruit, I thought would happen if the plant is stressed with lack of water or when the fruit is over ripe
Can you clarify sir
Thanks for another great video
Yes fruit can form with only female flowers.
For some varieties like Telegraph, if the female flowers are pollinated from the males, the flavour turns bitter, but I don't know why.
It happens only on some varieties and yes it's confusing, wish I had not mentioned it!
Another great, informative video, thank you, Charles. Could you tell me more about using the string as a support? I've been seeing it done more and more but don't know how exactly it's done. Thank you! Kindest regards from South Africa.
Thanks Vicky.
So many are asking about the strings, I explain it in the intoductory para to the video.
Charles Dowding sorry! Having a blonde moment. 😜 Thanks. 🌱
Charles, I heard you said to get rid of the male flowers on cucumbers? Doesn't the female need pollination? I had a sour cucumber a couple seasons ago. I thought it was cross pollination from squash.
Perfect sense. Thank you.
I don't understand about how to leave only two shoots on the aubergine plant (you said the German guy used it). How do you decide which stems to keep and when do you reduce the plant. thank you, great channel. I'm from Belgium BTW
The main one and a strong sideshoot just below it. Thanks.
I have always wondered what snapping side-shoots meant and how it was done. Thanks so much for finally enlightening me! However I am very intrigued by these cords you use for the plants to climb. I always use sticks. How do you fix them to the ground? Robin
Simply, with a knot on the end, placed under the rootball at planting time, the roots hold the strings tight in the soil.
Charles, have you ever tried letting cucumbers creep up the tomato trellis? I am planting tomatoes now in the cool climate of the Adelaide Hills, AU. I have just found out that they make good companions so was wondering if you let them crawl on the tomatoe plants?
Ah no Caroline!!
You write " I have just found out that they make good companions"
It's too vague!! Evidence? I hear this "good" and "bad" companions so much, and mostly it's wrong.
'Plants like companionship' is safer.
Possibly, ridge cucumbers near cordon tomatoes. Root systems not too close though.
Do you stake the ropes you use for your vining crops? or just bury them....and how deep? Maybe you can put this on your list for tutorial for next year. Love your channel!
I should have explained this, already answered it - Simply, with a knot on the end, placed under the rootball at planting time, the roots hold the strings tight in the soil.
Thanks for the request. So many possible videos. But Edward will be at university...
DaisyIdes I have been wondering the same!
Charles - the root and weight of the soil hold the string/twine in place? I was thinking it had to be staked. Thank you!
Amanda, see at 45s in this video ua-cam.com/video/54deYPBqeAQ/v-deo.html
The power of roots.