trimming back tomato foliage?

piegirl · July 27, 2008

The jungle outback is just growing by leaps and bounds - most plants are at least six foot high with all kinds of arms coming out and around. I tied up dozens of branches now I can hardly reach the cages - nearly lost the neighbor's 4 yr old yesterday! I am worrying about the dense foliage not allowing enough light in to ripen fruit and also noticed not much set on the deep inside - so what do you think of pruning out some of the new 'limbs'. Am going to try and post some photos because I am just in total amazement at the growth rate - haven't fertilized. Thanks in advance - piegirl

cottonpicker · July 27, 2008

I am a believer in judicious pruning to keep the plants a manageable size. I do not like a jungle to deal with so I try to limit mine to 3 or 4 growing stems by trimming branches & desuckering and believe it contributes to bigger & healthier fruit. It does somewhat limit the number of fruits but the increase in size makes it worth the effort. With less dense foliage, I think the increased air circulation makes for healthier plants. Just my two cents worth....

TZ-OH6 · July 27, 2008

At this point in time new suckers may not have time to grow, flower and mature fruit before frost, and it sounds like you have plenty of plant already.

As for bright light needed to ripen fruit, its not needed. If there is enough light to see the fruit there is enough to trigger any light induced changes (scientific studies have used flashes of red light in the laboratory).

bate181 · July 28, 2008

i pruned some foliage off one of my plants and it stunted the growth of the tomatoes. never gonna prune again

PaulF · July 28, 2008

I am not a pruner.

levad · July 28, 2008

i prune up from the bottom of the plant and the suckers. try to limit things to 2 growing stems. i stake my plants and its hard to tie up all the loose ends if i dont prune.
the tomatoes dont seem to mind but i have only a dozen plants to care for.

i think if there were pruning done during times of stress it would probably hurt the plant.

......now if i had an acre to plant i think i would just make lots of CRW cages and let things get a little wild.

piegirl · July 29, 2008

I trimmed out about a bushel or suckers today (40 plants) so this was minor trimming - just can't get down the paths - almost an archway! Around Labor Day I make the decision on pruning out new growth - but for the 1st time I have full blazing sun and wow what a difference. If this was my first garden, I would be afraid! But my friend said her plants are pretty similar in size. Like paulF - nothing ready for the county fair - enough ripening to keep me happy and share one or two. Piegirl

July 27, 2008	#1
piegirl Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 791	trimming back tomato foliage? The jungle outback is just growing by leaps and bounds - most plants are at least six foot high with all kinds of arms coming out and around. I tied up dozens of branches now I can hardly reach the cages - nearly lost the neighbor's 4 yr old yesterday! I am worrying about the dense foliage not allowing enough light in to ripen fruit and also noticed not much set on the deep inside - so what do you think of pruning out some of the new 'limbs'. Am going to try and post some photos because I am just in total amazement at the growth rate - haven't fertilized. Thanks in advance - piegirl

July 27, 2008	#2
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	I am a believer in judicious pruning to keep the plants a manageable size. I do not like a jungle to deal with so I try to limit mine to 3 or 4 growing stems by trimming branches & desuckering and believe it contributes to bigger & healthier fruit. It does somewhat limit the number of fruits but the increase in size makes it worth the effort. With less dense foliage, I think the increased air circulation makes for healthier plants. Just my two cents worth.... __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

July 28, 2008	#5
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	I am not a pruner. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

July 27, 2008	#3
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 848	At this point in time new suckers may not have time to grow, flower and mature fruit before frost, and it sounds like you have plenty of plant already. As for bright light needed to ripen fruit, its not needed. If there is enough light to see the fruit there is enough to trigger any light induced changes (scientific studies have used flashes of red light in the laboratory).

July 28, 2008	#4
bate181 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 74	i pruned some foliage off one of my plants and it stunted the growth of the tomatoes. never gonna prune again

July 28, 2008	#6
levad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: michigan 6a/5b Posts: 88	i prune up from the bottom of the plant and the suckers. try to limit things to 2 growing stems. i stake my plants and its hard to tie up all the loose ends if i dont prune. the tomatoes dont seem to mind but i have only a dozen plants to care for. i think if there were pruning done during times of stress it would probably hurt the plant. ......now if i had an acre to plant i think i would just make lots of CRW cages and let things get a little wild.

July 29, 2008	#7
piegirl Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 791	I trimmed out about a bushel or suckers today (40 plants) so this was minor trimming - just can't get down the paths - almost an archway! Around Labor Day I make the decision on pruning out new growth - but for the 1st time I have full blazing sun and wow what a difference. If this was my first garden, I would be afraid! But my friend said her plants are pretty similar in size. Like paulF - nothing ready for the county fair - enough ripening to keep me happy and share one or two. Piegirl