However, there are times in the season when you need to focus on pruning, and other times when you can skip a week or two without trouble.Įarly in the season, as your plant develops but before it flowers, a quick prune is needed to prevent the growth from becoming too dense. As these fast-growing plants continue to put out suckers throughout the season, pruning tomatoes is a continual task. Some plants, particularly shrubs and trees, only need to be pruned once per season (or once per year). Make sure you know what type of tomato you are dealing with before you start as pruning techniques differ. The most popular tomato varieties are indeterminate. Indeterminate tomatoes can reach several feet tall, while determinate tomatoes will only grow between 4-5 feet generally, depending on the variety.Ĭommon determinate tomato varieties include: They generally have shorter growing seasons than indeterminate tomatoes that will continue growing until cold weather sets in and kills the plant. Determinate Vs Indeterminate Tomato Plantsīefore we get into the technicalities, it’s important to understand the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes.ĭeterminate tomatoes are those that grow to a predetermined height with fruits that ripen all at the same time. But, if you want the healthiest, strongest tomatoes possible, pruning is essential. Pruning at the right time can also help the last tomatoes of the season grow and ripen to complete your harvest and end the season on a good note.įor busy gardeners that want a maintenance-free harvest, you can skip the occasional prune. Pruning excess growth and underperforming stems will direct the precious energy the plant has into developing fruits. But pruning is not only helpful for health. And, pruning dense areas of leaf growth improves airflow around the plant, again preventing fungal disease.Īs tomato plants are incredibly prone to a wide range of pests and diseases, any task that prevents these problems should be a top priority – including pruning. Trimming areas that touch the floor (or at least tying them to a stake) will prevent the transfer of soil-borne diseases too. Removing damaged branches makes the plant less susceptible to pests and diseases. However, that doesn’t mean there are no reasons to prune whatsoever.įor starters, pruning can make your plants healthier. Plenty of gardeners grow healthy tomatoes every year without pruning at all. Pruning is not essential to the health of your tomato plants. Ultimately, once you’ve weighed up the benefits and the performance of your plants, the choice is up to you. Pruning is a debated topic amongst tomato gardeners, with staunch defenders on either side. And, depending on your type of tomato and the part of the season you’re in, you can add pruning to that list too. From fertilizing at the right time to battling pests and diseases, there is a list of things to consider. There are many factors involved in producing the perfect tomato.
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