Cordon tomatoes ripening on plant with leaves removed to speed up ripening process

How to grow cordon tomatoes

Learn how to get the very best results from cordon tomato plants, in our practical guide.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is not at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do not To do in March

Do not To do in April

Do To do in May

Do To do in June

Do To do in July

Do To do in August

Do To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

For growing purposes, tomato plants are divided two distinct categories according to their growth habit. ‘Bush’ (determinate) types are left unpinched and need only to be loosely tied to canes to prevent them sagging. ‘Cordon’ varieties (indeterminate), also known as vine tomatoes, need pinching out and training during the growing season to get the best results.

Left to their own devices in the British climate, cordon tomatoes will produce masses of leafy growth with some flowers and little useable fruit, but with regular care your plants will keep producing tomatoes until early autumn.

The cordon growing method refers to training the plant on a single stem, tying this into a cane, and removing all the side shoots that start to form between the stem and leaves. With plenty of light and regular dressings of tomato feed, plants will start to flower soon after the 10th true leaf has formed and will continue to produce flower trusses right up the stem. Under glass – in a porch, greenhouse or conservatory – expect to get up to six trusses of fruit for each cordon-trained plant by mid-September.

Although you can get more trusses to form, the limitations tend to outweigh the benefits, so take out the growing tip back to a leaf joint just above the uppermost truss, so that all the plant’s energy is channelled into the fruit. In favourable locations outdoors, you should aim to get around three trusses to ripen fully.

Read our guide to sowing tomato seeds.

Learn how to raise your cordon crop, below.

Advertisement

You Will Need

  • Tomato plants
  • Growing bags
  • Twine
  • Canes

Total time:

Step 1

Check the main stem of the cordon-trained plant is well supported by tying it to a stout cane at intervals. Tie the soft garden twine on the cane first, then tie in the tomato plant.

Growing cordon tomatoes - tying in the stem
Growing cordon tomatoes – tying in the stem

Step 2

Use your thumb and forefinger to nip out any small side shoots developing at the base of the leaves where they meet the stem. Take care not to tear the tissue of the main stem or the remaining leaf.

Growing cordon tomatoes - pinching out side shoots
Growing cordon tomatoes – pinching out side shoots

Step 3

Cut out any large side shoots that develop between the stem and leaves using sharp secateurs. Snip as low as possible, close to the shoot base, but taking care not to damage the plant.

Growing cordon tomatoes - cutting out large side shoots
Growing cordon tomatoes – cutting out large side shoots

Step 4

Once the lowest truss of fruit has formed, you can reduce the foliage below by tracing back along the leaf stalks and cutting back to the pair of leaflets closest to the main stem.

Growing cordon tomatoes - removing leaves
Growing cordon tomatoes – removing leaves

Step 5

Under glass, cut the main stem once 5-6 trusses (3-4 outdoors) have formed to channel energy into swelling and ripening the fruit. Cut back to a leaf just above the top truss.

Growing cordon tomatoes - cutting back the main stem
Growing cordon tomatoes – cutting back the main stem
Advertisement

Pot up your sideshoots

Try rooting the sideshoots that you have picked off in water, then potting them up to raise new plants. 

CUT-OUT-1024X1024-plug-plant-LI1461306