How to Know Should You Prune Your Tomatoes

Tomato pruning is really a matter of choice but if you decide to prune, learn how and when it is best prune them to get the best crop.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vegetable Garden
• Tomato Plants
• Tomato Stakes
• Small Pruning Sheers

1. There is a familiar question among gardeners as to whether or not you should or should not prune you garden tomato plants. The fact is that tomatoes don’t really need to be pruned; it is more of a choice of preference and choice to the individual gardener him/herself.

2. Most gardeners that do prune simply just pinch off the side shoots (suckers) of the plant depending on what type of tomato that they are growing. Pruning is basically and simply thinning the plant to prevent its becoming too top heavy, causing leaning and often splitting of the plant when they have grown out of control.

3. Indeterminate tomato plants such as “Beefsteak“, “Big Boy”, “Brandywine” and early producing plants like “Early Girl” and “Celebrity” will generally die back before the end of the growing season because they produce earlier which is why they are often called semi-determinate varieties of tomatoes. Some indeterminate tomato plants depending on their growth habit will continue to grow and produce tomatoes all season long.

Tips & Warnings

• Prune below the flowers stem
• A little pruning is better
• Know the variety of your tomatoes
• Some pruning will increase your yield
• Pruning will compact your tomatoes
• Do Not prune bush type tomatoes (they don't need it)

[Hode]

on 7/29/2009 My tomatoes have already grown over 8 feet high and I find it hard to keep up with the pruning. Good article. Thanks.

[karileighk]

on 7/28/2009 Very helpful tips on pruning.