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- Senior Member
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pruning advice
I have never pruned my tomatoes plants before, I just let them grow wild. But this year the plants are particularily unmanageble. Yesterday I just noticed one of plants had a worrisome black patch on a stem. With the hot and humid weather on the way, I thought I would prune it a bit to get better air circulation. I hear the rule of thumb is you should prune suckers and side branches up to the first fruit cluster. And how should I prune it? Should I just break things off at the branching point or use a scissor?
To help with air-circulation, pull of the leave up the first 9 in. or so of the plant. For the suckers, pinch them off with your fingers.
Now, if you leave them to grow from low on the plant, they will be hardy, but will take away from the main-stem. If you let them grow high on the plant, they may not be as strong, but the main stem of the plant will stay thick.
Personally, I prefer to let them grow from the bottom and be hardy, you'll be staking/supporting the stems anyway.
Now, if you leave them to grow from low on the plant, they will be hardy, but will take away from the main-stem. If you let them grow high on the plant, they may not be as strong, but the main stem of the plant will stay thick.
Personally, I prefer to let them grow from the bottom and be hardy, you'll be staking/supporting the stems anyway.
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