Questioned: The Necessity of Pruning Tomato Plants

Questioned: The Necessity of Pruning Tomato Plants

Heck yeah, time to dive into whether or not you should be pruning your tomato plants!

I was just like you, thinking everyone knew the answer and it was a no-brainer. But as I started digging deeper into the nitty-gritty of tomato gardening, I realized the answer isn't as straightforward as you'd think.

People can get real passionate about tomato pruning, but I started asking, why? Is it because this is the way they've always done it? Or are they basing their pruning choices on their own experience and tests?

It seemed everywhere I turned I received conflicting information, so I did what I always preach - rolled up my sleeves and got my hands dirty in my own garden. The results were so clear to me that I'll never look at pruning tomato plants the same way again.

In this episode of The Dirt on Tomatoes podcast, I'll chat all about pruning tomatoes - how to do it, the potential benefits and drawbacks, and finally the results of my own experiment of pruning vs. not pruning tomatoes in my garden. Click the link below to catch the episode or keep reading!

So, what exactly is pruning tomatoes?

When your tomato plants start growing like crazy, they develop a main stem with side shoots. These side shoots are often called "suckers" - they start small but can grow into their own main stem.

Which tomatoes don't need pruning?

We're talking about indeterminate tomatoes here - they keep growing all season unless they're killed by frost or disease. Determinate tomatoes, like Roma tomatoes, produce all their fruit in a big burst and then stop - you don't need to prune them.

Pros of Pruning Indeterminate Tomatoes

1. Fungal disease prevention: Pruning can help reduce the risk of diseases like early blight or Septoria leaf spot by increasing airflow and inhibiting the spread of fungal diseases.
2. Tidy garden: Pruning keeps garden areas neat and tidy, preventing overgrowth that can make it difficult to care for and harvest tomatoes.
3. Improved sunshine: More sunlight on leaves means more photosynthesis, leading to healthier plants and potentially larger tomatoes.
4. Bigger tomatoes: Pruning can result in larger tomatoes by reducing the number of flowers and focusing resources on fewer fruits.

Cons of Pruning Indeterminate Tomatoes

1. Increased risk of disease: Cutting the plant opens wounds that can become pathways for insects and diseases.
2. Limited photosynthesis: More leaves produce more sugar,so pruning can limit the plant's ability to produce that sugar.
3. Reduced yield: Pruning can potentially reduce the overall yield of fruit since the plant produces fewer flowers.
4. Time commitment: Pruning tomatoes can be a big time commitment, requiring regular maintenance to keep up with the growth of the plant.

Topping Tomato Plants When They Grow Too Tall

During the growing season, regardless of whether you choose to prune or not, you may find your plants growing too tall. To prevent this, you can top off the plant by cutting the tip of the main stem, encouraging the plant to focus on fruit production.

Pruning vs. Not Pruning: My Experiment

I encourage you to take the plunge and conduct your own experiment. Grow a couple of tomatoes you prune and a couple you don't, and compare the results. The variables in your garden, such as climate, plant variety, and growing conditions, can have a big impact on the outcome.

Method

For my experiment, I grew two rows of indeterminate tomatoes side-by-side and staked them using my PVC/Rebar trellis method. I grew Cherokee Purple, Beefsteak, and Brandywine varieties, and pruned one row while leaving the other unpruned. I kept track of the yield, size of the fruit, and disease resistance between the two rows.

Results

I found that my unpruned row produced 29% more yield in pounds than the pruned row. I didn't see a significant difference in the size of the tomatoes between the pruned and unpruned rows. In addition, I didn't notice any difference in the health of the plants between the two rows.

Should YOU Prune Your Tomato Plants?

Ultimately, whether or not to prune your tomato plants depends on your specific circumstances. Consider the amount of space you have in your garden, the type of support you'll use for your plants, and your climate. Pruning can lead to benefits like improved plant health, increased yield, and larger tomatoes, but it also requires a time commitment to maintain.

If you're interested in diving deeper into the world of tomato gardening, make sure to tune into The Dirt on Tomatoes podcast and subscribe to get free gardening resources and tips!

• Exploring home-and-garden podcasts, you might discover episodes like "The Dirt on Tomatoes" that delve into various aspects of tomato gardening, including pruning.
• To help make decisions about pruning indeterminate tomatoes, you can refer to different resources, such as garden printables, which may provide helpful tips and infographics.
• As you experiment with growing and maintaining tomato plants, remember that lifestyle choices, including pruning, can greatly impact the health and yield of your garden, so it's essential to consider all potential pros and cons before taking action.

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