tomato pruning technique

username5 · July 13, 2006

Hi folks, just found the forum, glad to be here.

The last few years I have been transitioning away from traditional growing methods to those which are less labor intensive (for me) such as raised bed, container and SqFt gardening.

As a result my tomatos (mostly heirloom indets) have been getting spaced closer and closer together. I haven't determined any dramatic yield differences between 3ft and 2ft spacing, but this year I shrunk it to 12" (ala SqFt method) and for the first time have pruned heavily.

At 12" spacing using a trellis for support pruning seems pretty much mandatory. Can't say anything about yield yet as the first green maters have formed only recently.

What has been your experience with pruning indets and trellising|staking whatever?

I am pruning to a single stem and removing all suckers so anyone who has gone that route or the sq ft route I would really like to read your experiences. Is it true that per plant yield drops, but yield per row foot increases or equals out?

Also, kind of an odd question, but anyone else find pruning tomatos really enjoyable? I dunno why, but I am finding my once per week pruning session about the most enjoyable garden activity this year.

PaulF · July 14, 2006

My preference is caging and not pruning. No really good reason except that is the way I do it.

Mantis · July 14, 2006

Good to see you have gotten off your hands Keith.

I'll keep you posted on the Bush Whopper

PeteD · July 14, 2006

I am using a modified SFG method too, except that I have staggered rows 2 feet apart with 2-foot spacing between maters. I have erected a support that is over 9 feet above my tomaotes and I am using strings and vines clips for the first time. What a great system! (Thanks to the people at GW - at least some of whom are here, who introduced the concept to me).

Obviously, I am pruning heavily, but at 3 to 4 feet above the ground, I have started to let multiple vines grow (the big double vines and very large suckers, which are not really like suckers in appearance - if that makes sense).

I find pruning and using strings and vine clips to be really easy and fun once you are set up. There are other advantages too, which I will document in a separate post with photos, so as not to HJ your thread. I did use cages years ago and really never liked that growing style; just my preference.

username5 · July 14, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteD

Obviously, I am pruning heavily, but at 3 to 4 feet above the ground, I have started to let multiple vines grow (the big double vines and very large suckers, which are not really like suckers in appearance - if that makes sense).

Now that is interesting. Something I read in some book (don't remember which one) said that the higher up the plant the less vigorous the suckers and extra stems are. It suggested that if more than one stem was to be allowed it would ideally start below the first flowers.

Since this is my first year pruning I certainly can't say from experience if this holds true, but it seems logical since the suckers/extra stems have to draw from the main stem's roots. The closer they are to those roots the more vigorous they would be. I think

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

landarc · July 14, 2006

I tend to prefer cages, but, often end up staking as well when things start to get out of hand. I don't prune and rarely pinch out growth unless suckering is becoming a real issue. I am also incredibly lazy, so, I make no representation that I am optimizing harvest in any manner.

tjg911 · July 14, 2006

I too have switched from stakes to crw cages. I stopped pruning. It is a daily chore I hated. Miss a day at 85 degrees and dew points 65-75 and that sucker that was 1" yesterday doubles or triples in size.

While tomatoes naturally sprawl and I unnaturally cage, I think suckering is unnatural. The more leaves the more shade and there is some thought that shade allows sugars to concentrate. Better tasting (?) tomatoes and less work (

).

tom

fnsdo · July 14, 2006

Perhaps, the option of pruning is more appropriate in the cooler climes. In Arizona, where we have to use shade cloth to assit in survivial over the long hot summer, I have been very afraid to remove any potential shade . Thus, caged somewhat disorganized leafy plants.
Lots of leaves and shoots- plenty of work just stuffing the branches back into the cages.
Am thinking of trying indoor hydro with single stem this fall.
Cheers
Fred

robbins · July 14, 2006

Keith - Since you so enjoy stringing - especially when it's really hot, and since I am way behind on that job and things are getting too out of control - COME ON DOWN!!!!!!!! Plus you could take a look at all those Purple Hazes, Gary O'Senas, Liz Burts, B-10BC's and the like. I LOVE the B-10BC's - just lovely!

QAGuy · July 15, 2006

I both prune and cage. I use cages of PVC pipe and thus
it lends itself to 4 main vines. There's 4 main upright
pieces and I tie one to each upright.

Works great for me!

I start the 2, 3 and 4 main vines from the bottom most
first suckers that are growing in the proper direction. My
uprights are at 90 deg from one another.

After those 4 get going good, I prune all resulting suckers.
Although I do miss a few here and there.

And this is what they look like.

Dunkel · July 15, 2006

I prune and keep 2 main stems if possible. I tie them to a trellis and space them about 16" apart. Here's what 2 of my beds look like. They are double sided and look as good on the other side as well. These were taken a little over a week ago. http://[img]http://i59.photobucket.c....jpg[/img]

http://[img]http://i59.photobucket.c....jpg[/img]

username5 · July 15, 2006

Beautiful pics you guys, very healthy looking.

July 13, 2006	#1
username5 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Zone 5 Wisconsin Posts: 117	tomato pruning technique Hi folks, just found the forum, glad to be here. The last few years I have been transitioning away from traditional growing methods to those which are less labor intensive (for me) such as raised bed, container and SqFt gardening. As a result my tomatos (mostly heirloom indets) have been getting spaced closer and closer together. I haven't determined any dramatic yield differences between 3ft and 2ft spacing, but this year I shrunk it to 12" (ala SqFt method) and for the first time have pruned heavily. At 12" spacing using a trellis for support pruning seems pretty much mandatory. Can't say anything about yield yet as the first green maters have formed only recently. What has been your experience with pruning indets and trellising\|staking whatever? I am pruning to a single stem and removing all suckers so anyone who has gone that route or the sq ft route I would really like to read your experiences. Is it true that per plant yield drops, but yield per row foot increases or equals out? Also, kind of an odd question, but anyone else find pruning tomatos really enjoyable? I dunno why, but I am finding my once per week pruning session about the most enjoyable garden activity this year.

July 14, 2006	#6
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	I tend to prefer cages, but, often end up staking as well when things start to get out of hand. I don't prune and rarely pinch out growth unless suckering is becoming a real issue. I am also incredibly lazy, so, I make no representation that I am optimizing harvest in any manner. __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

July 14, 2006	#8
fnsdo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Paradise Valley, AZ Posts: 24	Perhaps, the option of pruning is more appropriate in the cooler climes. In Arizona, where we have to use shade cloth to assit in survivial over the long hot summer, I have been very afraid to remove any potential shade . Thus, caged somewhat disorganized leafy plants. Lots of leaves and shoots- plenty of work just stuffing the branches back into the cages. Am thinking of trying indoor hydro with single stem this fall. Cheers Fred __________________ 99 % of everything is BS. Most of the rest is Heirloom Tomatoes

July 15, 2006	#10
QAGuy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 167	I both prune and cage. I use cages of PVC pipe and thus it lends itself to 4 main vines. There's 4 main upright pieces and I tie one to each upright. Works great for me! I start the 2, 3 and 4 main vines from the bottom most first suckers that are growing in the proper direction. My uprights are at 90 deg from one another. After those 4 get going good, I prune all resulting suckers. Although I do miss a few here and there. And this is what they look like. __________________ "We have met the enemy and he is us" - Pogo

July 15, 2006	#11
Dunkel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West By God Virginia Posts: 245	I prune and keep 2 main stems if possible. I tie them to a trellis and space them about 16" apart. Here's what 2 of my beds look like. They are double sided and look as good on the other side as well. These were taken a little over a week ago. http://[img]http://i59.photobucket.c....jpg[/img] http://[img]http://i59.photobucket.c....jpg[/img] __________________ I plant... Therefore I am. - Dunkel What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds. - Will Rogers

July 14, 2006	#2
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	My preference is caging and not pruning. No really good reason except that is the way I do it.

July 14, 2006	#3
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	Good to see you have gotten off your hands Keith. I'll keep you posted on the Bush Whopper

July 14, 2006	#4
PeteD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: MA Z6a Posts: 72	I am using a modified SFG method too, except that I have staggered rows 2 feet apart with 2-foot spacing between maters. I have erected a support that is over 9 feet above my tomaotes and I am using strings and vines clips for the first time. What a great system! (Thanks to the people at GW - at least some of whom are here, who introduced the concept to me). Obviously, I am pruning heavily, but at 3 to 4 feet above the ground, I have started to let multiple vines grow (the big double vines and very large suckers, which are not really like suckers in appearance - if that makes sense). I find pruning and using strings and vine clips to be really easy and fun once you are set up. There are other advantages too, which I will document in a separate post with photos, so as not to HJ your thread. I did use cages years ago and really never liked that growing style; just my preference.

July 14, 2006	#7
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	I too have switched from stakes to crw cages. I stopped pruning. It is a daily chore I hated. Miss a day at 85 degrees and dew points 65-75 and that sucker that was 1" yesterday doubles or triples in size. While tomatoes naturally sprawl and I unnaturally cage, I think suckering is unnatural. The more leaves the more shade and there is some thought that shade allows sugars to concentrate. Better tasting (?) tomatoes and less work ( ). tom

July 14, 2006	#9
robbins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO Posts: 153	Keith - Since you so enjoy stringing - especially when it's really hot, and since I am way behind on that job and things are getting too out of control - COME ON DOWN!!!!!!!! Plus you could take a look at all those Purple Hazes, Gary O'Senas, Liz Burts, B-10BC's and the like. I LOVE the B-10BC's - just lovely!