To prune tomato plants effectively, especially indeterminate varieties, follow these guidelines:
Why Prune Tomatoes?
- Pruning helps redirect the plant's energy from excessive foliage to fruit production, resulting in larger, healthier tomatoes and faster ripening.
- It improves air circulation, reducing humidity and the risk of fungal and bacterial diseases.
- Removing lower leaves prevents soil-borne diseases from splashing onto the plant
What to Prune
- Remove lower leaves and any branches touching or near the soil.
- Pinch or cut off suckers-these are small shoots that grow in the leaf axils (the junction between the main stem and a leaf). Removing suckers prevents the plant from wasting energy on unnecessary growth.
- For indeterminate tomatoes, keep the main stem and allow one strong sucker below the lowest flower cluster to grow as a secondary stem for better yield.
- Determinate tomatoes require minimal pruning: just remove suckers below the first flower cluster and any leaves touching the ground
When to Prune
- Begin pruning when the first flowers open (usually late June or early July).
- Continue pruning every 10 to 14 days as needed.
- Stop pruning 1-2 weeks before harvest to allow foliage to protect fruits from sunscald
How to Prune
- Use your fingers to pinch off small suckers or sterilized pruning shears for larger ones.
- Always sanitize tools before and between plants to prevent disease spread.
- Remove any diseased or yellowing leaves promptly
Summary
- At planting, remove lower leaves and any flowers to encourage leafy growth.
- Throughout the season, regularly remove suckers and lower leaves.
- Focus on pruning indeterminate tomatoes for best results; determinate types need minimal pruning.
- Maintain clean tools and dispose of diseased material properly to keep plants healthy
This approach balances plant health, airflow, and fruit production for a bigger, healthier tomato harvest.
