Growing all kinds of vegetables is profitable, tomatoes being one of them. Adopting some techniques for more yield in tomato plants can be beneficial. Those who are cultivating tomatoes or thinking of doing so can adopt this method.
Regular pruning of tomato plants is the best way for healthy growth and high yield. In this article, you’ll learn why you should prune your tomato plant, what types of plants need it, and when you should do it.
If your tomato plant is getting huge, and not producing much, it’s time to prune your side shoots. Getting into the habit of regular tomato prune will ensure you get a higher yield.
What Kind of Prune Do Tomato Plants Need?
Before pruning tomato plants, it is important to know the difference between tomato varieties. Because not all tomato plants require the same amount of pruning.
Tomato plants are basically of two types.
1) Determined
2) Undefined
Below are the main differences between these two types of tomato plants:
- A) Tomato plants of prescribed varieties are small and bushy in shape. which grows to a certain size. They bear fruit only once.
- B) Indeterminate varieties of tomatoes are large in shape with long, flexible branches. They bear fruit every season.
Pruning Plants of Certain Varieties:
Remove the saps located at the bottom of the plant, just up to the first flower stalk. Do not prune the branch tops, or it may negatively affect tomato production. Pruning indeterminate varieties of tomatoes is a bit tricky.
Is it Necessary?
Pruning is not the only way to increase tomato yield. If your tomato plant looks good and you are happy with the yield, there is little need for pruning. But if it grows excessively and the yield of tomatoes does not increase accordingly, pruning must be done.
Why Should Tomato Plants be Prune?
Regular pruning is essential and results in higher yields. Why is regular pruning important?
Some reasons for this are given:
A) For High Yield:
If you don’t prune your tomato plant regularly, its growing leaves and stems will consume a lot of energy. As a result, the yield of tomatoes will be inhibited. You will not get much yield from the tree.
B) Prevents Disease:
Pruning plants is improve air circulation, which helps prevent fungal problems. Proper pruning also helps prevent blight and other soil-borne diseases.
C) To Enhance The Beauty:
Tomatoes can overgrow and take over weeds if not pruned. Also, when they overgrow, they quickly fall off. Tomatoes are damaged as a result.
D) If pruned in time to get more tomatoes, the fruit caught on the tree ripens quickly.
What is Tomato Suckers?
The tomato sucker is the overgrown part that appears between the stem and the branch. If it is allowed to grow, the shoots will develop into another branch that will later produce flowers and tomatoes.
Tomato Sucker.
The reason for their removal is that they compete with other branches for plant vigor and growth. This excess sucker can cause tomatoes to become smaller and reduce overall tomato yield. Once you remove the sucker, your plant can devote more energy to producing tomatoes without wasting energy on unnecessary branching.
Suckers also make the plant too bushy. As a result, it becomes very heavy. So you need to control their size and shape by removing them regularly.
Suitable Time For Prune:
It is best to start pruning tomatoes when they are still small. Even so, regular pruning should be carried out throughout the growing season. In late summer, you’ll need to prune even more. At this point, you can cut off any new flowers. It helps tomatoes ripen faster.
Whichever cutting tool you decide to use, always clean and sharpen the tomatoes before trimming them. This will help prevent any damage or disease problems to the plant.
Steps For Prune Tomato Plants:
First step:
Dead or Yellow Leaves Pruning
Any dead or yellow leaves should be cut off. It’s an easy first step and once you’ve cleared the front, the rest will be much easier.
Dead or Yellow Leaves of Tomato
Second Step:
Remove The Base Leaves
All leaves touching the ground should be cut off. This will help prevent the spread of soil-borne diseases, such as blight.
Base Leaves of Tomato.
Third Step:
Cut The suckers
It is not necessary to cut every sucker. This can seem very daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. You can try removing the biggest suckers at the bottom first, then if you have time, pinch off some of the smaller ones at the top.
Tomato Sucker.
Fourth Step:
Trim off Excess Leaves
This final step is optional, but essential for overgrown tomato plants. By pruning the largest leaves, the plant can be encouraged to lighten, shape control, and increase yield. Don’t over-prune the leaves, the plant needs its leaves to grow.
How Much Should Tomato Plants Be Pruned?
If you are unsure about how much to trim the tomatoes, cut off all the juice first. If it still looks bushy, you can thin it out by pruning a few leaves to control the size. However, the number of leaves should not decrease too much.
How To Do Too Bushy Your Plants?
Seasonal tomato plants are naturally taller than bush tomatoes. So, if you want bushier plants next year, try growing indeterminate plants. Otherwise, new shoots will emerge from the new tip of the main branch.
Conclusion
pruning tomato plants can help increase yield by encouraging the plant to focus its energy on producing fruit, rather than on growing leaves and stems. To prune tomato plants, it is important to remove any suckers that grow from the base of the plant, as well as any diseased or damaged branches. Pruning can also help improve air circulation, which can help reduce the risk of disease. It is important to be cautious when pruning, as over-pruning can lead to reduced yield. Overall, pruning tomato plants can be a useful technique for increasing yield, as long as it is done in moderation.
You Can Read:
1. Disease of Tomatoes: Identify and Control
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