Tomato Growing Forum
  
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            Subject:  How do you cut your stem?
			
  
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            | VTJohn | 
            
               Jericho Vermont 
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               I am going to be harvesting a couple of tomatoes by this weekend I am guessing and the biggest has a stem that looks like it will be a challenge to get to 1/2 inch as it appears to be half buried. I have used heavy duty scissors in the past but was wondering if anyone out there had suggestions? Thanks John 
		
				
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               8/18/2015 6:44:03 PM 
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            | Porkchop | 
            
               Central NY 
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               HandPruning shears for sure... Sharp ones 
		
				
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               8/18/2015 8:30:08 PM 
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            | Master P | 
            
               Ely Mn 
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               Just cut it off the best you can.that's all you can do. You don't want to damage the tomato. 
		
				
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               8/18/2015 8:53:44 PM 
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            | Gooigi | 
            
               Australia 
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               Remove quite a bit of the stem at first with any pruners sharp and strong enough. Then when you get inside, carefully remove the parts of the stem that are not needed. 
		
				
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               8/18/2015 9:46:48 PM 
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            | Dan Sutherland | 
            
               Walla Walla Wa. 
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               The rules state one half inch,if we don't go by the rules what good are they,I  use a pair of goar hoof trimmers they work excellent, hope it's a winner. 
		
				
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               8/18/2015 10:42:52 PM 
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            | Gooigi | 
            
               Australia 
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               If there's a minor bruise during the stem removal can the tomato be submitted? 
		
				
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               8/18/2015 11:37:52 PM 
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            | VTJohn | 
            
               Jericho Vermont 
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               Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have hacked away with kitchen scissors before and I agree on following the gpc 1/2 stem. Maybe in the future the GPC can look to see if the 1/2 is doable for giants or maybe it should be longer. Maybe a 1 inch stem is more realistic with a big tomato. 
		
				
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               8/19/2015 7:36:38 AM 
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          | Total Posts: 7 | 
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