Newbie - too late to prune?

Nancy1120 · May 20, 2016

Hi,

This is my first year growing tomatoes. I'm growing out of city pickers (earth box wannabe from homedepot). I planted two tomatoe plants per box (wish I had just planted one). My question is - the boxes are getting a little too crowded. Is it too late for me to prune my plant down to one stem? The second stem is as thick as the first stem and it's starting to flower. They've been in box for about 1.5 months.

Thanks!

image.jpg

Nancy1120 · May 20, 2016

Picture of my set up
image.jpg

Allisa · May 20, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy1120

Hi,

This is my first year growing tomatoes. I'm growing out of city pickers (earth box wannabe from homedepot). I planted two tomatoe plants per box (wish I had just planted one). My question is - the boxes are getting a little too crowded. Is it too late for me to prune my plant down to one stem? The second stem is as thick as the first stem and it's starting to flower. They've been in box for about 1.5 months.

Thanks!

Attachment 60699

Hello!
IMHO. If you don't want to keep two stems, but want to save a flower truss on the second stem, you could leave 2-3 leaves above the flower truss and prune the top of a second stem. If you'll decide to cut the whole stem, I would leave at least one leaf or half of the leaf, so it will not be so stressful for the root system, or at least few inches of stem without any leaves... I've done all of these options in the past with good results.

PaulF · May 20, 2016

Why would you ever want to prune? Your plants look healthy so why chop off any of the good growing parts?

jhp · May 20, 2016

I think you could cut it without a problem. Tomato plants just grow and grow. For years, I used to not prune at all, but now I prune to 2 stems and that works for me. I know your question was regarding getting rid of the second stem, but I say, why not leave it, and prune any new suckers. Believe me, there will be more. It's easier (emotionally) to prune them when they are small than after they've gotten big. So my advice is to be more ruthless going forward and prune out the suckers while they are small. Additionally, I think it would be fine to leave the second stem that's already there.

Good luck!

Jen

KC.Sun · May 20, 2016

I'm not sure what the size of your box is in relation to Earthboxes. But 2 tomato plants per box is fine without pruning for Earthboxes. So if it's the same size, you really don't need to prune. Only watch how the foliage grows, if it gets too dense, you'll want to remove some leaves to increase airflow and decrease the chance of disease.

Gardeneer · May 20, 2016

Pruning means different things :
1- pruning lower leaf branches and some inside the plant to facilitate air flow
2- Pruning some of the laterals to keep the size down.
3- pruning the leaf branches that are yellow and look sicky.
I do all 3 of them.
And no, never is too late to prune. It is an ongoing practice all season long.

Gardeneer

b54red · May 21, 2016

I am trying to keep all my plants to one stem this year but as usual I find myself missing some and before I know it there are some nice clusters of fruit on the sucker or fork that I should have removed. I just clip them off above the cluster and after the fruit ripen I remove the useless stem.

Bill

May 20, 2016	#1
Nancy1120 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles, ca Posts: 4	Newbie - too late to prune? Hi, This is my first year growing tomatoes. I'm growing out of city pickers (earth box wannabe from homedepot). I planted two tomatoe plants per box (wish I had just planted one). My question is - the boxes are getting a little too crowded. Is it too late for me to prune my plant down to one stem? The second stem is as thick as the first stem and it's starting to flower. They've been in box for about 1.5 months. Thanks! image.jpg Last edited by Nancy1120; May 20, 2016 at 03:47 PM. Reason: Picture

May 20, 2016	#4
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	Why would you ever want to prune? Your plants look healthy so why chop off any of the good growing parts? __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

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May 20, 2016	#5
jhp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 492	I think you could cut it without a problem. Tomato plants just grow and grow. For years, I used to not prune at all, but now I prune to 2 stems and that works for me. I know your question was regarding getting rid of the second stem, but I say, why not leave it, and prune any new suckers. Believe me, there will be more. It's easier (emotionally) to prune them when they are small than after they've gotten big. So my advice is to be more ruthless going forward and prune out the suckers while they are small. Additionally, I think it would be fine to leave the second stem that's already there. Good luck! Jen

May 20, 2016	#6
KC.Sun Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: 6a Posts: 322	I'm not sure what the size of your box is in relation to Earthboxes. But 2 tomato plants per box is fine without pruning for Earthboxes. So if it's the same size, you really don't need to prune. Only watch how the foliage grows, if it gets too dense, you'll want to remove some leaves to increase airflow and decrease the chance of disease.

May 20, 2016	#7
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Pruning means different things : 1- pruning lower leaf branches and some inside the plant to facilitate air flow 2- Pruning some of the laterals to keep the size down. 3- pruning the leaf branches that are yellow and look sicky. I do all 3 of them. And no, never is too late to prune. It is an ongoing practice all season long. Gardeneer

May 21, 2016	#8
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I am trying to keep all my plants to one stem this year but as usual I find myself missing some and before I know it there are some nice clusters of fruit on the sucker or fork that I should have removed. I just clip them off above the cluster and after the fruit ripen I remove the useless stem. Bill