Without Feeling Like a Villain
Tomato plants are a lot like excited puppies. Give them a bit of sun, some water, and a little fertilizer, and before you know it…BAM! They’re growing in every direction possible. Now you have a tomato bush, not so much a plant.
While all the growth is pretty impressive, a bit of pruning will help your tomato plants stay healthy and productive. Giving you even more delicious fruits!! Pruning tomato plants is an important step you don’t want to miss.
These guys below need a good trim!
Step 1: Find the Sneaky Suckers
First, meet the tomato sucker. It’s a small stem that grows in the “V” where a branch meets the main stem.
These little guys will happily grow into full-sized branches if you let them. The problem is that they use up energy that really needs to go toward growing tomatoes. When suckers are small, simply pinch them off with your fingers or your fingernails.
If they’ve gotten a bit ambitious, use clean garden snips. Don’t worry, you’ve let them get to this point. We’ve all been there! (Me. I mean me.) Plus, they can get there in a matter of days. So, unless you have the time to check each plant daily as your new hobby, don’t beat yourself up!
Quick Note: If you are pruning your tomato plants with shears, clean them first to disinfect the metal. This may sound like I’ve lost my mind, but it will prevent you from spreading disease and fungus from other plants to tomatoes, which are a bit more sensitive.
If you think 1 or more of your plants may be sickly, either use a different set of shears or clean them between plants to stop the spread of anything icky.
Step 2: Give the Bottom of the Plant a Haircut
Take a look at the lower part of the plant near the soil. If they’re touching the ground or hanging low, it’s time for them to go. I like to trim mine up to 6-12” depending on the variety, but it’s just a personal preference.
Removing these lower leaves helps improve airflow around the plant and reduces the chance of diseases splashing up from the soil during watering or rain. Think of it as helping your tomato plant breathe a little easier.
Before During After
Step 3: Thin Out the Jungle
If your tomato plant looks like it could hide a family of raccoons, it may need a little thinning.
Remove a few crowded stems and leaves from the center of the plant to allow sunlight and fresh air to reach the rest of the plant.
Don’t get carried away, though. Tomatoes still need plenty of leaves to protect fruit from sunscald.
Step 4: Keep Up With It
Tomato plants don’t stop growing after you prune them once. If only! Check your plants at least once a week for new suckers, yellow leaves, or damaged growth.
A few quick snips here and there are much easier than trying to tame a tomato jungle later.
You may also consider doing what I call “capping” the plant. This is completely optional. You can do this if your tomato plant gets above your cage or support system, or if you just think it’s gotten a bit out of hand for you to manage.
Your time is precious, and you may not want to spend it constantly pruning tomato plants. Simply snip off the top at your desired height.
Final Thoughts
Pruning tomatoes isn’t complicated.
- Remove the suckers
- Trim the lower growth
- Keep air moving through the plant.
- Keep them at a level manageable for you
Pruning tomatoes will make them healthier and more focused on producing fruit, rather than turning your garden into a leafy wilderness.
A few minutes with the pruners today can lead to a lot more tomatoes tomorrow—and that’s a trade most gardeners are happy to make.
Until Next Time!
PJtxGirl
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