Only indeterminate, not dwarf tomato varieties, can be pruned. A tomato tree in Epcot's Land Pavilion at Walt Disney World broke records in 2016 when it produced a one-year harvest of 32,000 tomatoes. Tall, spindly transplants are usually caused by low light levels in the home. If your goal is to maximize the harvest, prune suckers sparingly. They can also be grown in hanging baskets, in a bucket the Kratky way, or traditionally in the ground with a cage. Removing large amounts of foliage at one time can stress the plant. This helps keep the commonly huge vines in control, and it encourages the plant to produce several large tomatoes instead of lots of foliage and many smaller tomatoes. If you're not concerned about growing large fruit or trying to keep the plants under control, you don't need to worry about pruning. Only the indeterminate varieties should be pruned. If you decide to prune, it's really a very simple process. I do sometimes remove bottom leaves. However, they do produce fruit earlier in the season than their indeterminate siblings. Your email address will not be published. Dwarf Andy’s Forty Tomato Tomato plants may be started indoors from seed, or transplants may be purchased from a reputable garden center. Usually, dwarf tomato varieties need 12 inches of spacing between plants. After planting, surround the transplants with some type of plastic enclosure open at the top. Reply. Plenty of people do not prune at all and still grow good tomatoes. Dwarf tomatoes behave as if they’re very compact indeterminate varieties—they fruit the same way, persevere until frost, and have superior flavors similar to … Colleen Vanderlinden is a freelance writer and the author of Edible Gardening for the Midwest. Place a tomato cage over the plants after transplanting them to a container or the soil. Leave the thicker shoots. Tomato 'suckers' will actually turn into stems that produce tomatoes. If you're growing indeterminate tomatoes, which produce fruit regularly over the course of a season, pruning is essential. Besides indeterminate varieties need about 3 to 4 feet spacing between plants for growing cherry tomatoes. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. We do not prune dwarf tomato plants. Do this no matter what kind of tomato plant you... 2. Because determinate plants develop all of their fruit at one time, pruning may cause you to sacrifice tomatoes for no reason. They have short life cycles and they come to harvest very quickly. Look for the tomato "suckers," which grow in the "V" space between the main stem and the branches on your tomato plant. If left unpruned, these suckers will eventually grow into full-sized branches—adding lots of foliage and, eventually, a few fruits. Tomatoes are warm-season plants that grow best at temperatures of 70 to 80 °F during the day and 60 to 70 °F during the night. If starting your own plants, use a light soil mix and give the plants plenty of light. Are they determinate or indeterminate? The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Good disease resistance! This will also result in a tomato plant that quickly outgrows its space in the garden. Being a dwarf variety of tomato, the plant requires less staking – they average 2-4.5 feet (60-140cm) in height. **Make sure to never remove more than 1/3 of the total plant during pruning so the plant does not go in to shock. That little shoot is known as a sucker (above). Bush and dwarf vining varieties don't need pruning because they naturally grow into short bushes, but the plants benefit from a supporting cage. Pruning determinate varieties is not recommended, since it may reduce the harvest. When a tomato plant is pruned properly, all of the foliage receives adequate sunlight, and the plant is able to photosynthesize more efficiently, boosting growth and fruit production. How to prune indeterminate tomato plants. ** One of the last steps to pruning and tomato care is to tie up branches that need a little extra support. Look for the tomato 'suckers,' which grow in the 'V' space between the main stem and the branches on your tomato plant. Any smaller than this, and the plant may not recover from the shock of being pruned. Aromatic too. The main reason to prune tomato plants is that it helps your plant direct its energy toward producing fruit rather than producing more foliage. Short Versus Longer Growing Season. Determinate plants are smaller dwarf or bush plants which only produce one large crop. I don’t prune tomato plants. Determinate plants will stop growing when the fruit sets on the top bud. 1  If left unpruned, these suckers will eventually grow into full-sized branches—adding lots of foliage and, eventually, a few fruits. To avoid spreading disease, prune the leaves when they are dry. Why Do the Ends of My Tomatoes Stay Green? Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Severe pruning can also be performed several times a year, or once every couple years. The seeds are sown six to eight week… You want to start pruning tomato plants a when they get to be about 1 – 2 feet (30-60 cm.) Dwarf tomato plants are smaller versions of cherry tomato plants. While both kinds produce miniature fruit perfect for popping whole into your mouth, the dwarf plants are much smaller. If you prune these plants it will decrease your yield. If left alone, a sucker forms a large stem that flowers and bears tomatoes. Pruning up the bottom of plants allows for better air circulation, and better plant health. Perhaps the prettiest dwarf tomato, Dwarf Brandy Fred is a tomato lovers dream. The Horticulture Smart Gardening Techniques: Melons & Berries is a great downloadable guide filled with tips and techniques for growing delicious melons and berries. Prune for plant structure and health. A properly pruned and supported single-stem tomato plant presents all of its leaves to the sun. Dark pinkish fruits are larger fruits and can reach one pound. When it comes to pruning tomato plants, it’s all about clearing space to promote better air circulation, provide more light, and keep pests and disease at bay. University of New Hampshire Extension. All of the fruit on determinate tomatoes ripen at about the same time and usually over a 1- 2 week period. A tomato cage surrounded by clear plastic sheeting works well. Some dwarf bush tomato varieties will only grow to 24 inches! 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