Pruning tomato plants

[tyl32343]

When is it too late to prune tomato plants? I grow them as a hobby and job during the summer. I recently got out of school and haven't been able to prune yet. The tomatoes are between 1 and 2 feet tall and have set first bloom cluster and some have a few small tomatoes on them. Also what all branches and suckers should be pruned?

[JohnJones]

Originally Posted by tyl32343

When is it too late to prune tomato plants? I grow them as a hobby and job during the summer. I recently got out of school and haven't been able to prune yet. The tomatoes are between 1 and 2 feet tall and have set first bloom cluster and some have a few small tomatoes on them. Also what all branches and suckers should be pruned?

Not an easy thing to answer as there are variables. Is the plant going to be staked or is it in a cage? That kind of thing. There are a number of pruning videos on YouTube that will give you the basics.

Here is a good one from one of TV's moderators...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smiy0Iswi8c

[tyl32343]

Originally Posted by JohnJones

Not an easy thing to answer as there are variables. Is the plant going to be staked or is it in a cage? That kind of thing. There are a number of pruning videos on YouTube that will give you the basics.

Here is a good one from one of TV's moderators...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smiy0Iswi8c

They will all be staked. Have close to 1,500 to prune.

[JohnJones]

I would say no it is never to late to do some pruning. Watch the video and see if you have any questions.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by tyl32343

When is it too late to prune tomato plants? I grow them as a hobby and job during the summer. I recently got out of school and haven't been able to prune yet. The tomatoes are between 1 and 2 feet tall and have set first bloom cluster and some have a few small tomatoes on them. Also what all branches and suckers should be pruned?

That is the perfect time to get started.
Mine are about the same size an some even bigger and I have not started pruning yet.

I wouldn't let the lateral get too big if they will be pruned. Because it can cause shock and stress to the plant. At this stage you would just bend and break it away, no need for cutting with pruner. But is you let them get thicker than a pencil , then it is better to use a pruner.

One more thing: Try not to prune all of them ( on one plant) once. Do couple of them at a time, starting from the lower ones.

If Some of the plants have already forked, I would keep those. I keep 2 -3 branches.

[b54red]

Are they determinate or indeterminate?

Bill

[tyl32343]

I have about an even split of both.

[tyl32343]

Awesome. Thanks for the advice.

[tyl32343]

Originally Posted by JohnJones

I would say no it is never to late to do some pruning. Watch the video and see if you have any questions.

Thank you the video was very helpful in answering my questions.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by tyl32343

I have about an even split of both.

Do not prune determinate tomato plants.

Worth

[Traveler237]

Morning All:
Got my Earthtainers up and running and crazy growth. Found this thread and wanted the groups opinion...I think I should prune out a few wayward stems Or pull the tainers apart a bit. Getting really crowded looking as they grow out. I will be tying/ weaving them into that trellis behind as they grow.

Thoughts?

[pauldavid]

Good looking plants, but you might want more space between them to get good air circulation, I like 36" spacing. Good luck!

[b54red]

They look pretty thick which is great for foliage diseases, spider mites and aphids. You might be able to do that in your dry climate but for me the plants would already be sick down here in our oppressive humidity. I still think you would probably get more actual fruit if you limited the number of stems so more energy could go into fruit production instead of growth tips.

Bill

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by b54red

They look pretty thick which is great for foliage diseases, spider mites and aphids. You might be able to do that in your dry climate but for me the plants would already be sick down here in our oppressive humidity. I still think you would probably get more actual fruit if you limited the number of stems so more energy could go into fruit production instead of growth tips.

Bill

I am of the similar opinion.
Also in our wet PNW weather ( Not humid, but just wet) , any foliage close to the ground is invitation for soil born diseases and also airborne bacterial diseases that can thrive in stagnant moist condition.
I also believe that tomato plants, in general, grow proportionately more foliage than needed. It is just the nature of the beast that need to be tamed a bit.

SO i even prune the lower leaves and laterals on my determinants.

Gardeneer

[b54red]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

I am of the similar opinion.
Also in our wet PNW weather ( Not humid, but just wet) , any foliage close to the ground is invitation for soil born diseases and also airborne bacterial diseases that can thrive in stagnant moist condition.
I also believe that tomato plants, in general, grow proportionately more foliage than needed. It is just the nature of the beast that need to be tamed a bit.

SO i even prune the lower leaves and laterals on my determinants.

Gardeneer

And I thought I was the only one that pruned determinate plants.

When I started opening them up a bit I found that my production went way up and so did the health of the plants. Of course they don't get near the pruning of my indeterminates. You should see my bed of single stem plants I set out on April 18th. For the most part they look great and are already setting fruit like crazy even though most are between 2 and 3 ft tall with just one lone stem and no suckers. I've got them planted about 18 inches apart and I'm beginning to wonder if I should have given them just a little more space. Oh well this is just an experiment while my main tomato bed is limited to 2 stem plants set out a little more than 3 ft apart.

Bill