2/13/2024 0 Comments Download pruning tomato plants![]() ![]() But the study did not find that pruning tomato suckers ever helped with the yield of the plant.īut, on an anecdotal level, a great many Master Gardeners recommend the practice of pruning tomato plants. ![]() And, whether pruning the tomatoes improved the fruit just depended on luck as to whether or not the tomato plant developed disease because of the pruning. So, scientifically speaking, who is right? A study at Iowa State University (PDF) published in 2000 showed that pruning tomato suckers sometimes made a difference and sometimes did not in terms of the size the fruit. Others claim that pruning tomato suckers damages the plant unnecessarily, opening it up to disease and doing nothing to actually help. Some people assert firmly that pruning tomato suckers improves the production and health of a plant. The answer to this question is actually a personal one. It keeps the plant growing straight up, producing beautiful fruit.Sometimes the tomato plants in our gardens get so large and so unwieldy that you can’t help but wonder, “Should I prune my tomato plants?” This question is quickly followed by, “ Exactly how do I prune tomato plants?” Let’s look at these two questions. Angus says, “Pinching laterals out stops the plant from growing out sideways and eventually becoming a monster. ![]() This is a trick his Grandpa taught him many years ago. Laterals will continue to grow out to form branches which produce its own leaves and eventually, flowers and fruit as well.Īngus says, “The problem with leaving the laterals is that they will continue to grow out sideways, making it hard to stake the plant, the fruit sits on the soil and rots away, and generally the plant becomes too big and unmanageable.”Īngus removes all the lateral shots as soon as they are big enough to pinch out. Laterals: These are small ‘branches’ that grow between leaves on the central leader. Leaves: These are attached to the central leader. To understand how best to prune your plant, it’s a good idea to understand these basic points about the structure of a tomato plant:Ĭentral leader: This is the main stem of the plant which keeps growing indefinitely, producing flowers and fruits. And, Angus says, “That means pruning them.” To get the best out of your tomatoes, especially in the small gardens that are so common today, you need to manage them well. ![]()
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