Sep
How to Prune Tomatoes?
There are many different methods for pruning tomatoes howeverthis is the way my family have been doing it for generations & I’m yet to have an unsuccessful crop.
Importantly never prune or tie plants when the are wet.
The steps Involved for pruning tomatoes are:
1. First of all make certain that the leaves are never touching or even close to the soil. This should be checked on a daily basis & pruning should be done when necessary.
2. Remove all side shoots, that form between the side stem & the main stem (sometimes called suckers). These side shoots if left alone will form like a normal stem & have leaves & bear fruit. The plant may bear fruit more quickly but they will be smaller & the plant will finish fruiting a lot earlier. The main stems strength will also be compromised & may break under all the weight. The easiest & safest way to do this is to pinch it off when it’s still small using your thumb ad index finger, avoid using blades as this can quickly lead to infection.
3. Remove all side stems below the first fruit cluster.
4. Do not tie plants to the stake or trellis until the first flower appears or wait until the plant starts to sag?whichever comes first. This will encourage the the stem to strengthen up on its own accord.
5. Caged plants only need their bottom leaves pruned to keep the leaves well away from the soil. Any wandering stems just need to be pushed back inside the cage.
6. When the flowering begins, tie all tomato vines to their supports. Care must be taken as the stems are easily damaged. Many different types of materials can be used, some growers prefer biodegradable ties that break down over the season so they do not damage the stem as it grows larger. I prefer old panty hose as they’re a gentle material. However they may need to be adjusted over time in order to reduce damage.
7. Training ties keep the plants growing upwards, they should be placed around main stem & then wrapped loosely over itself to make a figure eight. This reduces the stem from bruising.
8. Supporting ties should be placed above a cluster of fruit in order to take the weight off the main stem, this takes the weight off the stem & prevents the stem from bending over or breaking under the excess weight. A sling like tie should be placed just above the cluster, again this should be loose in a figure eight. It should be tied a few inches higher than the point it’s attached to the vine.
9. About a month before the last frost a final prune should be done in order to ensure all fruit fully matures. There is more. This is done by lopping all the growing tips. There is more. This will direct all the plants energy into maturing the remaining fruit instead of continuing the stem growth.
If the plant is to be staked or trellised than extra pruning is necessary. If a tomato uncaged is left to its own devices they will grow into a tangled, disease infested wreck, they simply need to be pruned in order to produce a bountiful harvest. When pruning & staking tomatoes we must ensure that each leaf has plenty of room & is off the ground, this will maximize photosynthesis & reduce the risk of disease. What you really need to aim for is a single stem plant with plenty of room between stem & leaves. A properly pruned plant will result in large fruits that steadily produce until the next frost. Multiple stems will result in poor fruit production. Pruned plants are also healthier as the leaves dry off faster, so bacterial & fungus have less opportunity to spread & soil is less likely to spray up onto leaves (which contains countless bacteria & fungal pathogens).
Visit Tomato Growing Guide for much more help-fultomato plant care tips.
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About the Author: Chris Fotiou has a passion for cooking, travel & gardening. Chris is the owner of a popular cooking tour website called World Cooking Tours World Cooking Tours lists hundreds of cooking tours from around the world. Cooking Classes in Tuscany is the most popular cooking tour destination.
