Yellow Pear and Super 100's

[gardenbean]

When it comes to pruning these varieties is it best to just not prune them or is it ok to at least get the lower branches off the main stem to avoid fungual diseases down the road?

I went ahead and trimmed off the lower branches but thats all I have done. And yes I still pinch out sucker shoots once a week.

[TZ -OH6]

Are you talking about branches or leaves? Remove ground-level leaves to help the plant dry out and stop fungus. How much to prune branches really depends on your support method and how much of a mess of jungle you are willing to put up with.

[gardenbean]

TZ-All of the bottom branches have come off so I have at least a 10 inch clearing from the first branch and the soil. I use a trellis support that is attached to a fence that has a southern exposure. One securely trellised, the plants usually take over the fence and by the end of the season the fence is completley covered with tomato vines with their bunches of tomatos thru out.

And that's all the pruning that I do with my yellow pears.

[TZ -OH6]

Sounds like you have everything under control.