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Pruning Tomatoes

2K views 8 replies 3 participants last post by  dc sunshine 
#1 ·
Hi,

I know this is pretty much off topic for most of you chilling up north, but it's summer down here.

I've planted a variety of tomato bushes, some cherry low standing ones, and some tall standard ones that will need staking, also some chilli and capsicum plants.

They are still very bushy down low - should I be trimming off their lower branches to encourage upward growth and get them off the ground? It would seem to make sense, just looking to hear from anyone with some experience with them.

Any suggestions would be great - Thanks!

DC
 
#2 ·
DC -

except for some of the cherry types, tomato plants will not bear their own weight when fruiting, so you must stake / support them if you want to "keep them off the ground" stakes & cages work - I like homemade cages - about a meter in diameter wire fencing with 15 cm squares.

most peppers & chilis will support themselves.

I never prune either unless a branch is going somewhere it's not supposed to - early on I just bend the errant limb back into the cage - later when I get to floating in tomatoes I'll lop it off.
 
#4 ·
You have bush tomatoes and cherry tomatoes they naturally grow low, pinching off the lower branches won't help them grow taller. You want to prune the sucker shoots that grow out where the initial branch joins with the stem. If you don't the tomatoes will branch out all over the bush and the weight of the tomatoes on the branches will break them from the stem. I'm glad you're having nice weather, rather chilly here.
Cheers
Sam
 
#5 ·
Tomato plants have gone mad :) ended up staking them on several stakes per plant (too lazy to find a wire cage - sorry Dil!)

Sam, the only bad thing is, the weather has been TOOOO hot like 40 deg C, getting a lot of burnt tomatoes, wondering if its worth putting some black shade cloth over them on a scorcher of a day? I know they like sunshine but its been awful.

Daina
 
#6 ·
yeah, rub it in.... I'm sitting here in the middle of big ice mess!

stakes is good - pick what works for you - t'aint no magic in this stuff. I've always had "falling limbs" from adjacent trees - used to pick out the "tripod" pieces, stick 'em in legs down, cheep! & biodegradeable!

it is possible for tomatoes to catch a sunburn. for covering: cheesecloth or spunbond polyester "row covers" - if you insist. it's typically just the shoulders of the few exposed fruits that get burnt and frankly, easier to just cut around it or toss 'em. with that kind of weather you should be getting multiple tons of tomatoes per plant <g>

just today I spend 15 minutes pondering the crop of pathetic red orb like things in the supermarket. back to my old standby: romas / plum tomatoes in the winter. they seem to have the best taste over the "wooden months"
 
#7 ·
Not rubbing it in :) everything else is dying :(

Yeah Roma's seem to have the most flavour thru winter - its either that or tinned tomatoes, depending on what you're making. I hate the anaemic sorry looking garden variety tomatoes in mid-winter...no flavour no matter what you do to them. Even roasting them with herbs, garlic and olive oil does little to disguise the fact that it isn't tomato season.

Think I'll just toss the burnt ones into the compost - never know, could get some sprouting if they are left long enough...or I could get their seeds and use for next year. If I leave them there on the plant, they could also act as a screen for the others I guess. Then harvest the seeds.
 
#8 ·
>>Then harvest the seeds

be aware, if they are a hybrid type, you will get tomato plants from seed, but you probably will not get the same characteristics - it's dicey.

heirloom types are very "saveable" - allow to ripen fully, squeeze the seeds into a jar with juice from the tomato + water if needed, allow to 'ferment' for 3-5 days, wash-clean-dry.
 
#9 ·
hmm don't think they are heirloom. The names here probably won't mean a thing there, although I think one of them may be. They are still green.

I'm quite disappointed with one of the cherry varieties - nice and sweet on the inside but the skin is as tough as shoe leather. Won't be saving those seeds. Goes by the name of "Sweet Bite" here. i know one to avoid for next year

Chillies are going well, they seem to love the heat. Looking forward to a little black spherical one called Black Pearl - it is supposed to end ep looking like a black olive and be pretty fierce in flavour. Its a pretty plant, dark purple/ black leaves, purple blossoms, and the fruit are just starting now. Fingers crossed!
 
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