Pruning the Late Starts

mobiledynamics · May 22, 2018

got some seedlings I started late. a bit small in ground....

Leaves=food, but at the token, I'm leaning on pruning the 1st or even 2nd set of leaves to minimize the soil touching as they droop. Help me pick my poison. Leave it alone or trim the leaves ?

taboule · May 22, 2018

Trim them away from the soil, more will grow higher up the plant.

Gardeneer · May 23, 2018

I would only prune the first pair of true leaves at this stage. When the plant grows more foliage then prune the second and third set of leaves.

Labradors2 · May 23, 2018

I agree with Gardeneer. The plants need as many leaves as possible, so only prune the ones that touch the ground for now. You can always prune the others later when the plant has had a chance to grow bigger.

Linda

JRinPA · May 26, 2018

Are you talking about before they are planted? I basically break down any tomato to the growing tip plus two leaves and bury the whole stem up to that point. Within a few days they are double/triple the size and have plenty of root to take up nutrients. Usually they get trenched at about a 45 degree angle to keep them up in the warmer, more nutritious soil.

May 22, 2018	#1
mobiledynamics Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: 7B Posts: 281	Pruning the Late Starts got some seedlings I started late. a bit small in ground.... Leaves=food, but at the token, I'm leaning on pruning the 1st or even 2nd set of leaves to minimize the soil touching as they droop. Help me pick my poison. Leave it alone or trim the leaves ?

May 23, 2018	#3
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I would only prune the first pair of true leaves at this stage. When the plant grows more foliage then prune the second and third set of leaves. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

May 22, 2018	#2
taboule Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 903	Trim them away from the soil, more will grow higher up the plant.

May 23, 2018	#4
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	I agree with Gardeneer. The plants need as many leaves as possible, so only prune the ones that touch the ground for now. You can always prune the others later when the plant has had a chance to grow bigger. Linda

May 26, 2018	#5
JRinPA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SE PA Posts: 972	Are you talking about before they are planted? I basically break down any tomato to the growing tip plus two leaves and bury the whole stem up to that point. Within a few days they are double/triple the size and have plenty of root to take up nutrients. Usually they get trenched at about a 45 degree angle to keep them up in the warmer, more nutritious soil.