You can trim more than just the lower branches, just make sure to leave enough foliage to shade your tomatoes to prevent sun scald. This way the suckers won't grow as large- meaning less energy wasted. Note: It is worth taking time to prune your plants on a regular basis. Find small 'new' suckers - Cut these (Will be easier to see and less work if you cut large stems first).Cut all larger stems up to your first tomato.This gives the tomato a good chance of sealing its cut would without any infection. The best time to prune is on a dry, warm day. This helps the plant use the remaining days to ripen the tomatoes on the plant instead of budding new tomatoes that won't have time to ripen.

We will also pinch off all new flowers and tomatoes starting 30-40 days before first frost in your area (emphasis on the top of the plant). The growing tip can be anywhere from 3-5 inches. In the late season, to convince your tomatoes to ripen before the first frost, snip off the growing tip of each main stem about four weeks before the frost is expected.

Reduce wasted water and nutrients on unproductive branchesįirst of all, the goal is to trim all the lower branches to allow good airflow under the plants and help push water and nutrients to the tomatoes. To remove suckers, pinch with your fingers, and gently pull from the stem.

Low branches stay wet and are great vectors for plant fungus and diseases.

Red ones, yellow ones, orange ones toowho likes tomatoes If you’d like to grow more tomatoes, what can you doDoes removing the lower stems of a tom.

My grandma never trimmed her tomato plants, why should I? If you’d like to grow more tomatoes, what can you doDoes removing the lower stems of a tom.

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