What happens when you prune all the tops off tomatoes

loulac · March 16, 2014

We can't really say a majority of French people stick to the pictures shown which are mainly used by professionals.
There is a great variety of practices among amateurs. Many grow their tomatoes on one or maybe two main stems according to the strength of the plant and cut all suckers. We hardly ever cut the top of the plant as it will often very early fork into two/sometimes three stems by itself.

Now there is a strong tendency to let the plant grow as it pleases, tests have shown that production was about the same and leaves are supposed to feed the plant.
If the bush is too thick of course some pruning is recommended.

Kokopelli, a producer/seller of organic seeds in the tomato chapter of its book of garden varieties is strongly against all forms of pruning. Personally I don't hesitate to leave some suckers as long as the sun can reach most tomatoes. I only cut the top of the plant when I'm sure the last flowers will never give ripe fruit.

March 16, 2014	#16
loulac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France Posts: 554	We can't really say a majority of French people stick to the pictures shown which are mainly used by professionals. There is a great variety of practices among amateurs. Many grow their tomatoes on one or maybe two main stems according to the strength of the plant and cut all suckers. We hardly ever cut the top of the plant as it will often very early fork into two/sometimes three stems by itself. Now there is a strong tendency to let the plant grow as it pleases, tests have shown that production was about the same and leaves are supposed to feed the plant. If the bush is too thick of course some pruning is recommended. Kokopelli, a producer/seller of organic seeds in the tomato chapter of its book of garden varieties is strongly against all forms of pruning. Personally I don't hesitate to leave some suckers as long as the sun can reach most tomatoes. I only cut the top of the plant when I'm sure the last flowers will never give ripe fruit.