Should you prune tomato plants for better harvest?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Pruning tomato plants is a crucial skill that yields better harvests. Removing side shoots enables the plant to conserve energy, as it is no longer wasted on excess foliage, allowing it to channel more energy into fruit development. Fruits ripen more quickly when they have good air circulation all around. Knowledge of the correct pruning techniques helps avoid problems such as sunscald, blotching, and cracking. Every gardener should be well-versed in these basic skills.
Growth Control
- Remove suckers below first fruit cluster weekly
- Limit plants to 2-3 main stems for optimal yield
- Pinch new flowers after August 15th in most zones
- Never remove leaf clusters directly shading fruit
Disease Prevention
- Trim yellowing leaves immediately with sterilized shears
- Clear foliage touching soil to prevent fungal splash
- Remove infected branches 6 inches below damage
- Dispose of cuttings far from garden beds
Pruning should be done at different times, depending on the type of plant and the season. You can start pruning suckers when the plants are about a foot tall. Remove suckers from the bottom of the plant first. Midseason, start keeping the upper canopies thin. Toward the end of the summer crop, cut some flowers off, too, to send energy back to the fruit that exists.
Tool selection is critical to your success at pruning. Use bypass pruners for a clean cut; for stems under ½ inch in diameter, use floral scissors. Sterilize your blades with rubbing alcohol between plants. Dexterity and a steady hand should prevail; you want a clean cut, not to crush plant tissues.
Be cautious of over-pruning, as it can stress the plants and reduce their yield. Never remove more than one-third of the foliage at a time. Always keep at least two layers of foliage over the developing fruit. Pruning in the mornings allows the plants to heal the wounds created throughout the day, and that evening, they have the opportunity to take a drink of water after having been heavily pruned.
Watch how selected plants respond to pruning. If they are healthy, the plants will turn around and show new shoots in a day or so. If they are struggling, they will droop or drop buds and flowers. In any event, work out what you would do differently next time, as you prepare notes ahead of your next season's grafting and other shooting techniques. You will be rewarded with bumper crops.
Read the full article: When to Harvest Tomatoes for Best Flavor
