The pinching of tomato stepsons causes a lot of controversy among gardeners, so this topic can be dedicated to a separate section in a book on gardening.
You can't neglect the culture. Experienced gardeners are unlikely to argue with this statement. Everything needs care, otherwise you shouldn't dream of a rich harvest.
Summer residents remove shoots as they grow. The larger the size of the stepson, the more harvest it has taken. Thus, side shoots can deprive summer residents of several dozen fruits.
Therefore, experienced gardeners follow a simple rule. They remove the shoot when it reaches the length of half a little finger.
The most effective way is to pinch the branch with a fingernail, leaving small "stumps". This guarantees summer residents that a new stepson will not appear in this place.
Some gardeners make a mistake by pulling out or cutting off a side shoot at the root. After this, the shoot can develop again, so the procedure will have to be repeated.