Pruning tomato's

[kittykat8]

this is not pruning this is leaving sticks will take a photo tonight


Marion

[workhorse]

All right, lets look at this another way. Instead of removing the whole branch of leafs, would it be in order to shorten the branches so that we leave less on the plant.

[Kristen]

FWIW I have the RHS "Growing Vegetables" book beside me. It says "When the plants are 4-5ft tall it usually helps to remove the lower leaves up to the first truss. This allows more light into the bottom of the plant and improves the air circulation and, hence, reduces the chance of fungal diseases. Always cut of the leaves cleanly with a sharp knife"

It also says to space at 18" in each direction. (Mine are 24" apart, so I have a bit more "air" to start with)

I wonder once the bottom truss has finished fruiting whether I should interpret "remove the lower leaves up to the first truss" to mean, at that time, removing leaves up to the second original truss?

It also says "Cold greenhouse tomato plants are unlikely to produce more than six or seven trusses in a normal season. It is best, therefore, to remove the growing point of each plant when it reaches the roof of the greenhouse, or two leave beyond the top (sixth) truss"

I still think that should be date based ... if they have got away more quickly in a good season, then they can probably carry another truss. Trouble is, I don't know what date that is!

Perhaps a poll of the number of trusses reached on 1st July would be handy?

[maillme]

Hi All,

My plants are no more than 1½ ft hight - and all the talk or truss / set etc - ive no idea what this is - help!

Should i be pruning just now? And is the flower the actual tomato? (due to my in experience i managed to kill one plant already by not opening the door - Ive left it (stem is all thats left) in the grow bag??)

many thanks,
Neil


My Tallest Plant:

[markwcel]

once the first truss has set...remove all lower leaves...as it grows we pinch out every other leaf to leave room and give light...once 4 to 6 trusses have formed pinch out the growing tips

[maillme]

again, back to my opening statment:

"and all the talk or truss / set etc - ive no idea what this is - help! "

lol - ive actually no idea what all the lingo means???

thanks agin,
Neil

[Garden_girlie21]

The truss is the shoot from the stem that has all the flowers on. when a flower sets it's fruit it means, in this case, you can see the actual tomato forming. The first link below is what we would call a truss of tomatoes.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thum...mato_truss.jpg

The sencond link is a tomato that is 'setting'

http://k43.pbase.com/u30/lindarocks/....tomssmall.JPG

Anyway, these are my interpretations. Hope this helped!!

Jennifer

[smallblueplanet]

again, back to my opening statment:

"and all the talk or truss / set etc - ive no idea what this is - help! "

lol - ive actually no idea what all the lingo means???

thanks agin,
Neil

Here's a bit more info on growing toms - including talk of 'trusses'!

Naturenet: In Praise of the Nightshade Family

Here's a video to watch that might be useful?

How To Prune Tomatoes

[Kristen]

Those pots standing in your grows bags: have the pots got bottoms, or are they open-at-the-bottom [other than the normal drainage holes]

[maillme]

Hi All,

many thanks for the advice - i think im a little clearer now!

Kristin, yes, the bottoms are cut out!

Neil

[Snadger]

I have just defoliated mine up to the first truss to allow a bit of air movement arouind them and allow me to get the watering can directed at the roots.
My Roma tomatoes have four trusses on them now and are only 18 inches high!

I think that if mother nature and natural selection had deemed that the leaves should all be removed bar a few at the top the plant would have discarded them by itself cos it's aim is the same as ours, more tomatoes ie more seeds to perpetuate the species!

[Kristen]

"How To Prune Tomatoes"

What an EXCELLENT video. I see lots of folks asking about "what are side shoots" etc., that is the perfect answer.

I am also pleased to see them suggest two things that I like the sound of:

1) Take the bottom leaves off when they are looking worn out

2) Top the plants one month before the first frost, or when it hits the roof. (i.e. not based on the number of trusses)

But there are other opinions of course ...

[maillme]

Hi there,

OK - my tomato plant died but the other 2 live on!!

My gf bought me a replacement tomato plant the other day though(came home from workingaway and thought a miracle had happened!).

I'm now bit unsue / scared to prune this - as itseems a bit savage.

ive attached some pic, the 1st one is my new plant (and alot bigger) with tomatos growing - the 2nd pic is a plant i attempted to prune - but i feel like its a bit bare now

I've marked where the first tomato's are - am i doing this correctly (2nd pic) and 1st pic - should i remove all the branches below this?

may thanks,
Neil


Pic 1


Pic 2

[Kristen]

This may help:

How To Prune Tomatoes