Why prune tomatoes

Pruning tomatoes may take some extra time but it is well worth the effort. Not only will it keep the leaves healthier, it will produce larger fruit and make it easier to find it before the birds and insects do. It will also stop your tomato plants from taking over your entire veggie patch. 

How to prune tomatoes

The first thing to do is to prune off the lower leaves and suckers up to the first fruiting cluster. This creates airflow around the base of the tomato and stops water from splashing onto the leaves during rain events which can lead to fungal diseases, especially in humid weather. As the plant matures it is important to continue cutting off the lowest leaves as they start to die back or look diseased. Prune about once a week.

At the same time, remove the suckers that grow between each leaf and the main stem. If left to their own devices, these will turn into a whole new main stem, with its own suckers. Soon you will have a tangled mess that is impossible to trellis or find fruit on. These suckers can be cut off with sharp secateurs and planted straight into the ground or a pot to create a new tomato plant.

Some people also prune their fruit clusters, removing and sacrificing one or two fruit at the end of the cluster when they first form, in order to get less but larger fruit overall. 

So give pruning a go this year and see if your plants are healthier and happier. 

Still to come

Next time I will talk about growing and pruning cucumbers. 

This week's recipe links

Pierogi - Polish Dumplings from Recipe Tin Eat. 

Australia's Favourite Zucchini Slice from Taste. 

Basil-Whipped Feta with Pan-Seared Zucchini from Something Nutritious. 

Creamy Kale, Pumpkin and Potato Bake from Taste. 

More info

To read more about what's happening on our local organic farm this week as we grow and care for veggies for our box delivery, check out this week's newsletter here.