Growing juicy delicious tomatoes is a goal for many gardeners. While it takes good soil sun exposure, watering, and care, pruning is an important task that can help your tomato plants be more productive. Pruning establishes the plants’ structure, improves air circulation and light penetration, and helps direct the plants’ energy into the ripening fruit. Follow some simple pruning techniques and you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful tomato harvest.
When to Prune Tomato Plants
Tomato plants require pruning multiple times through the growing season. Here are the best times to prune:
-
When transplanting seedlings Prune off all leaves below the top two sets, This allows the transplant to focus energy on developing roots rather than foliage,
-
When plants are 12-18 inches tall: Prune off all suckers and side shoots below the first flower cluster. This helps establish the main stem.
-
Throughout the season: Continue to prune suckers and side shoots as the plant grows. Allow 1-3 main stems to develop.
-
Mid-summer: Stop pruning leaves and shoots so the plant can focus on ripening fruit. Remove only diseased or dead material.
How to Identify Suckers and Side Shoots
Suckers are shoots that emerge where leaf stems meet the main stem. Side shoots emerge from between leaf stems. Both suckers and shoots grow in the “armpits” of the plant. Pruning these helps shape the plant and promote healthy, robust growth.
Pruning Tools Needed
You don’t need fancy tools to prune tomato plants. A sharp knife or hand pruners work well. Sterilize tools before each use with rubbing alcohol or a dilute bleach solution to prevent spreading disease.
Step-by-Step Pruning Instructions
Follow these steps for pruning tomato plants:
-
Remove suckers and side shoots by pinching or cutting them off at their base. Be careful not to damage the main stems.
-
Identify 1-3 main stems to keep. Prune off all suckers and shoots from unwanted stems.
-
Prune leaves below the first flower cluster or fruit set. Leaves below will not receive much light anyway.
-
Continue monitoring for new suckers and side shoots. Prune them regularly to establish your desired plant shape.
-
Stop pruning leaves and shoots mid-summer so the plant can focus energy on fruit production. Simply remove diseased or dead material.
-
When plants are 30-40 days from your first frost date, prune off all new flowers and small fruit. This channels energy into ripening existing fruit.
Tips for Effective Tomato Pruning
Follow these tips to maximize the benefits of pruning:
-
Prune on a dry, sunny day to minimize disease risk.
-
Always make pruning cuts above a leaf to avoid stubs, which can become infected.
-
Disinfect tools between plants to prevent spreading disease.
-
Remove all pruned suckers, shoots, and leaves from the garden bed to prevent pests and disease.
-
Prune plants to 1-3 main stems. More can lead to overcrowding and less air circulation.
-
Be cautious not to over-prune, which can stress plants. Aim to remove just problematic growth.
Benefits of Pruning Tomato Plants
Pruning your tomato plants takes a little time and effort, but offers many rewards:
-
Promotes plant health: Removing excessive foliage allows air circulation and light penetration. This reduces pests and disease.
-
Encourages fruit production: Pruning helps direct the plant’s energy into developing fruit rather than vegetation.
-
Improves fruit quality: Fruit on a pruned plant ripens more evenly since resources are distributed.
-
Makes harvesting easier: A pruned plant is less bushy and tangled, making it simpler to spot and pick ripe tomatoes.
-
Extends harvesting season: Removing new flowers and fruit at season end channels energy into ripening existing fruit on the vine.
Alternative Pruning Methods
The pruning method described here focuses on removing suckers and side shoots. Other options include:
-
Minimal pruning: Just remove lower leaves and prune diseased/damaged growth. Plants will be bushier.
-
Single stem pruning: Allow just one main stem to grow tall, removing all side shoots. Requires staking.
-
Two stem pruning: Allow two main stems to grow, removing all other shoots. May require staking.
The best method depends on your goals, constraints, and planting situation. Experiment to see what works for you!
Pruning is an essential technique for growing bountiful, healthy tomato plants. Take time throughout the season to selectively remove excessive leaves, suckers, shoots, flowers, and fruit. This encourages robust plants that yield perfect tomatoes. With proper pruning and care, you can enjoy a prolific tomato harvest!
Free shipping on orders over $149 – Enter code DAHLIA24 at checkout
This Free Shipping offer expires 5/31/24 and requires a $149 minimum purchase amount. This offer cannot be applied to previous purchases or combined with any other offer. This deal only works for Economy Shipping within the lower 48 states. It can’t be used for items that require faster shipping, items that cost more to ship, or delivery services from our garden centers.
Find more garden information
A simple pruning makes for productive plants! By
For more than 20 years, I’ve been gardening and writing about gardening. But I still find myself learning new things about the plants, bugs, and other animals that live in my backyard. That’s great about gardening—it’s never dull! I’ve been a landscaper, worked on an organic farm, been a research tech in a plant pathology lab, and run a small flower shop. All of these experiences have helped me write about gardening. I once told someone, “Never!” when they asked me when I’d finish my gardens. For me, gardening is a process, not a goal.
How to prune early season tomatoes
If you don’t take care of tomatoes, they will grow into bushy, multi-stemmed plants that fall over when their fruit gets too heavy. Fruit and foliage are more prone to attack by pests and disease when theyre sprawled on the ground. Pruning your tomato plants and using plant supports can help create healthier, more productive tomato plants.
How to Prune Tomatoes for Maximum Yield and Plant Health
FAQ
How to prune a tomato plant for the best yield?
What parts of tomato plants should be pruned?
How to prune a tomato plant?
Hasving the right tools that are clean and sharp is an important step in pruning tomato plants. The next step in pruning plants is to collect the right tools. All tools should be sanitized and sharpened. This is important when pruning, as you are essentially damaging the plant, opening it up to certain diseases.
How much should a tomato plant be pruned?
As mentioned above, there are no hard and fast rules about how much you should prune your tomato plants. Some gardeners swear by removing all the leaves from their plants. The idea is that all energy is then directed into the fruit and nothing else. However, most gardeners recommend some pruning; but do suggest avoiding taking off too much.
How do you prune a tomato offshoot?
For offshoots, use a method called Missouri pruning, which means you pinch off the offshoot right above the second set of leaves to keep the plant from going into shock. Pruning is not an essential part of growing tomatoes, but it is very easy and can help improve fruit production on indeterminate plants.
How do you increase the yield of tomatoes?
One very important aspect of pruning tomatoes to will help increase the yield of tomatoes. Always keep the lower portions of the mature plant very thoroughly pruned. Under no circumstances should your plant’s leaves ever be touching the ground. Keeping them off the soil will help keep them dry. This helps prevent disease.
