Pruning Tomato Plants

Want to double your tomato harvest?

The number one thing you can do is to prune your tomato plants. Pruning is not a foreign concept to most gardeners, but pruning tomato plants, especially in the South, may be a forgotten benefit. The benefits of pruning are: 1. Stimulates growth, 2. Increases airflow which decreases mold, 3. Allows water and nutrients to flow more effectively to the tomatoes instead of the leaves, 4. Tomatoes are healthier, 5. Tomatoes will mature quicker.

HOW TO...

Today we located a flowering branch on the plant. If the plant has more than one then we considered the lowest flowering branch. We then pruned all leaf branches below the lowest flowering branch. Some tomato growers continue to prune all leaf branches below future developing flower branches. Thereby only leaving leaf branches at the top of the plant. Be careful not to over prune in the South.

NOTE:

In the South there needs to be much care to not over prune tomatoes. Over pruning will result in sun scorched tomatoes. Some leaf branches need to be left to provide some shade.

Locate the flower or fruit branch(es). As you will notice, the flowering branches are a smaller diameter than the leaf branches. Consider that as you contemplate whether you would like to grow leaves or tomatoes.

Locate the leaf branches. Prune off the lowest leaf branch that is below the lowest fruit or flower branch. I am pointing to that branch.

Continue pruning off all leaf branches below the lowest flower branch. Prune by pinching off, with a razor blade or pruning snips.

This is a finished initial pruned tomato plant. This is what your pruned tomato plant should look like.

All leaf branches on the main stem are remove. However, this is not the end of your pruning for the season. As the plant grows, it will need supporting via cages, staking, string, etc. The further pruning of leaf branches, especially those that drape near the ground, will need to be done. Removal of these low draping leaves will increase air circulation which will greatly help to prevent fungus and blossom end rot.

Remember this is the primary pruning and others will be necessary as the plant grows. Remember, in the South, a balance between leaf branches for shade should be attained. Do not remove all of the leaf branches.

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