| Pruning can be an important part of your tomato | | | | the main stem and the first branches and thinning |
| growing experience and is something that you | | | | dense foliage or non-producing leaves (hidden |
| should certainly learn to do correctly. You won't | | | | beneath other leaves and therefore using more |
| always need to prune. Most determinate varieties | | | | sugar than they are producing) are the two most |
| can do without it. However if you grow tomatoes | | | | important pruning acts to enhance the fruit |
| for any length of time you will almost certainly | | | | production from your plant. |
| find yourself in a situation where pruning becomes | | | | 4) Topping the plant: Towards the end of the |
| important. | | | | season, about a month before first frost, you |
| So here are 5 tips that will get you started in | | | | need to prune all the growing tips from the plant. |
| pruning your tomatoes correctly. | | | | This is called "topping". The reason for this is |
| 1) Why we prune: This is the most important tip. | | | | simple, by topping the plant you are maximising |
| We only prune to; increase the survival of the | | | | the potential for the fruits that are set to achieve |
| plant, focus the energy of the plant or top the | | | | full maturity before the frost sets in. Better to do |
| plant at the end of the season. | | | | this than end up with a plant full of unripe, tough |
| Let's look at these reasons more closely. | | | | green fruit. |
| 2) Increasing Survival: This comes down to two | | | | 5) How to Prune: Pruning itself comes down to |
| tasks; keeping the plant away from the soil which | | | | either pinching or snipping. To pinch, use your |
| is done by removing side stems and also staking | | | | thumb and index finger and break off the suckers |
| the plant so that it has something to cling to and | | | | when they are young. To snip use a good clean |
| increasing the air flow around the leaves by | | | | sharp pair of secateurs and cut off the leaf that |
| thinning out the foliage so that there is distinct | | | | you are removing flush against the stem of the |
| space around each branch. | | | | plant without damaging the stem. To top plants |
| The reason that this is done is to minimise the | | | | simply snip off the growing tips. |
| risk of soil borne diseases coming into contact | | | | Understanding the purpose of pruning is one of |
| with the plant and to assist the leaves to dry out | | | | the more important things that a gardener can |
| after rains which again will help reduce the | | | | know. Poor pruning and over-pruning are a good |
| incidence of disease. | | | | way to ruin a plant. So follow the tips in this article |
| 3) Focussing Energy: Removing side stems that | | | | and help your plant produce to its fullest capacity. |
| start to grow as suckers in the crotch between | | | | Good growing... |