Tomatoes are one of the most versatile fruits on the planet, they are not only incredibly tasty but also good for your health too. They’re rich in vitamins A, C and folic acid and wide array of nutrients and antioxidants including lycopene, choline, beta carotene, lutein and alpha lipoic acid.
Pruning them is the best way to keep your plants healthy and to get maximum yield. So, if you want to produce much fruits in this summer season, then it’s time for you to bring out your pruning shears. So, get in to a habit of trimming tomatoes on a regular basis will give you the best yield.
Here are some steps you need to follow to have maximum yield in your garden.
Choose The Right Type:
Firstly, it’s very important to understand the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes.
The determinate type of tomato grows to determinant height, usually 4 to 5 feet tall. You should never prune determinate tomatoes. They eventually reduce tomato production rather than increasing it.
The indeterminate tomatoes will grow as tall as possible can. You can prune them.
Give Them Good Support:
While planting determinate tomatoes, you should begin with a method of support in place. For good production of tomatoes, stake them with high trellises or sturdy rope to support them as they grow tall.
When you support your plants firmly that allow you to plan your pruning and carry them out with a clear vision.
By staking tomatoes, you are supporting the main stems and trim away tomato suckers. Be careful not to prune away main stems or excessive amounts all at once. For Perfect photosynthesis process, your tomatoes need to have good leaf structure.
Make Use Of Plant Cages:
Cages are also useful when you want to grow maximum number of tomatoes. They generally tend to hold all of the limbs together. Sometimes, they might make you difficult to work around and determine which need pruning where limbs should remain on tomato plant. Cages are more suited for bush tomato determinate tomato varieties than non determinate.
Why Pruning Or Trimming Tomatoes Increase Your Yield?
Pruning or trimming will keep you away non productive suckers and leave healthy and produce limbs in place. Pruning tomato plants will put the majority of their energy toward fruit production.
It means there is reduction in fungal diseases such as leaf spot, powdery mildew infection or early blight. It also improves air flow of your plants, with proper air flow leaves will easily dry quicker after rain and watering. Reducing number of leaves will also help the plant to get rid of pests. Fewer leaves mean more abundant sunshine to your plant and your fruit.
Generally, intermediate tomatoes tend to sprawl quite vigorously if not pruned. They continue to grow and take lot of space. Well, carefully pruned and trained tomatoes take less space in your garden.
You can plant more and close to each other. However they produce fewer tomatoes but they will be larger.
Trimming Tomatoes Will Keep Lower Parts Of The Plant:
Always keep the lower portions of the plant pruned and never allow the leaves of plant to touch the ground. Keeping them off the soil will help them dry and prevent all types of diseases.
Once the plant reaches a height of two or three, they begin to produce flowers and cut off the foliage that is foot or less from the ground.
This process helps in avoiding problems with tomato blights and number of other tomato diseases.
How To Prune Tomatoes For Maximum Yield:
They are many ways to prune your tomatoes. Every gardener uses their own technique to have maximum yield. The popular and easier one is Missouri Pruning, with this technique you begin to remove any blossoms that are on the plant. It gives energy to the plant to recover from transplanting and helps in developing of leafy growth.
You just need to continue pinching or removing flower clusters until the plant reaches up to 18 inches tall. This process ensures in developing strong roots.
When your plant develops its first cluster of tomatoes, cut off leafy suckers growing below it. Do it until the plant grows taller. Always cut off below producing limbs. The leaves growing closest to the fruit are responsible for delivering sugar to the fruit.
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