How to properly prune tomato plants

During the growing season, you can reap the benefits of stronger plants, more fruit production, and bigger harvests by pruning your tomato plants regularly. This means you will have a lot of tomatoes, which you wouldn’t otherwise have.

If you have tomato plants that are disease-prone, drooping, or diseased, pruning should be on your gardening to-do list.

This is the perfect way to trim tomato plants.

Why Prune Tomato Plants?

Pruning tomato plants is important for healthy and abundant production for three main reasons.

First, disease and insect infestations are common on leaves and branches exposed to the ground. These plant segments are easily susceptible to become entry points for diseases and pests. Removing these overhanging branches reduces the chance of the rest of the plant having the same problem.

Second, densely packed foliage on tomato plants traps moisture and restricts aeration, making it perfect for disease to grow and spread. Pruning helps open up the plant, which improves air circulation and reduces the risk of disease spread. In addition, it protects the plant from excessive weight and bending.

Finally, as the growing season approaches it is better for the plant to focus its energy on fruit development rather than new leaf growth. When you cut the fresh growth at the top of the tree, the tree is told to focus on producing fruit. In this approach, the emphasis is on maturing and growing large tomatoes rather than growing more plants.

How to Prune Tomato Plants

A good set of pruning shears is essential for effective tomato pruning. When trimming, pay attention to the following:
Remove ineffective branches: Start by identifying branches that have leaves but no fruit, especially those that are turning brown or yellow or showing signs of disease. Diseases can spread through these branches, especially if they come in contact with the ground. Cut from tomato plants close to the main stem.

To increase air flow and light penetration into the plant, prune high branches that are not bearing fruit. At a certain point on the tree, you will find two branches: one bearing fruit and one covered with leaves below it. To avoid this, you can cut the lowest, leafy branches only

Get Rid of Absorbent Plants: Absorbent plants are branches that grow out from the base of the main stem and take energy away from the main plant. To focus the plant’s energy on fruit production, prune them as little as possible.

At the end of the growing season, prune the relatively young green branches that grow upright. This helps control the tree’s height and instructs it to focus on maturing its current fruit rather than developing new growth.

When to Prune Tomato Plants

When your tomato plants first start to develop, don’t rush to trim them. It is preferable to wait until one-third to one-half of the growing season is over. When low-hanging branches begin to turn yellow, this indicates that your trees need to be pruned.

Also, it’s a good idea to thin a tomato plant when it starts to look full or when its branches start to break out of its stapes or support cage.

When the evenings cool and you expect to see your first frost within the next two to three weeks, you should trim the top of your plant. By doing this, you’ll help the rest of the fruit ripen before winter really sets in.

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