How Do You PRUNE TOMATO PLANTS: Removing Leaves And Suckers From Tomato Plants THE RIGHT WAY!

How do you prune tomato plants? If you never prune your tomato plants follow tis video to learn all you need to know on pruning tomato plants the right way!
Three weeks after planting my tomato plants it is time to prune them for the first time and this is a perfect occasion to show you how to sucker tomato plants. Pruning tomato suckers was never hard for me and I can do it in just few minutes every few weeks when I do regular maintenance on my tomatoes. So, let’s find out how do you prune tomato plants!
⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 How Do you prune tomato plants - INTRO
3:09 How to sucker tomato plants
6:10 Removing leaves from tomato plants
8:20 When to prune tomato plants
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📢 I am sure you learned how to prune tomato plants the right way in this video and that you will go and will regularly prune your tomato plants. As I mention spotting your suckers is easy if you know where to look and pruning tomato suckers after you spotted them is even simpler. But not just suckers also removing leafs from tomato plants shouldn’t scare you because even if you mess something the tomato plant will grow new leafs. Hope you find value in this video and if you did don’t forget to leave a like!
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[@SmallGardenQuest]

So how do YOU prune tomato plants? Let me know :) If you want to learn how I plant tomato plants follow this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHWrpGOwrtt8e5Y

[@fraukeg.facchini2691]

I do the same that you do. Plant as deep as possible or sideways, which I find difficult in the square foot garden.

[@sandywise7338]

I've been growing about three dozen tomato plants in raised beds for over thirty years. In the beginning I mistakenly pruned the wrong branches, believing the new suckers were healthier. It took some years before I became aware of the better way. Once in a while, while pruning, I accidently broke off the top half of the plant. I experimented with propagating that broken half and, to my surprise, it rooted and I then planted it. It caught up pretty quickly to the original plants. After using tomato cages for some years, I switched to trellis support and found it to be much much better. I am almost 90 and every year wonder if this will be my last garden. Growing tomatoes is a big part of who I am. I grow my own seedlings and thereby get to choose the variety. Over the years some of the names were kind of outlandish: Kellogg's Breakfast, Cherokee Purple, Cherokee Chocolate, Pineapple, Big Zac, Mortgage Lifter, Box Car Willie, Red Pear, Stupice, and more. Knowing the better way to prune makes it more likely to have a good crop!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

So inspiring to hear such a great story! I hope I will be gardening at 90 too and I am looking forward to the learning journey ahead of me :)

[@My_Secret_ArtSketchbook]

My dear Child, even though I didn't give birth to you i can honestly say that this will NOT be your last Garden. There will be other gardens in another dimension where you would of grown more than tomatoes even before you get there with your Good deeds. Every single thing that you have grown on this planet Earth that anybody eats out of it- it is counted as a GOOD deed.- everything counts. PEACE.

[@My_Secret_ArtSketchbook]

Well Done for Reaching in your 90s.

[@samjones3546]

It’s remarkable how many healthy people in their 80’s and 90’s say that gardening is how they like to spend their time.

[@splitshot71]

Wish you many more years of pruning tomato plants. 👍

[@conniedinner6532]

I believe the blind pruning. My great-uncle was blind and he had a truck garden and greenhouse that he tended himself until he was in his nineties!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Wow inspiring!

[@bromheadToulson]

I would have been lost without your channel and you great advice especially the 4 different layouts video and the companion planting THANK YOU!!!!! PRUNE THEM BLIND

[@sibylc2908]

This is a really well-made video. I’ve heard these pruning tips before, but never with such a thorough explanation of WHY you should prune as instructed. It all makes so much sense now! Thank you for such a great video!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Glad it was helpful! I put a lot of energy and try to make the video as comprehensive as possible :)

[@sibylc2908]

Small Garden Quest it was excellent!

[@davidwimble9907]

Very helpful, thank you! I'm going to give it a try tomorrow.

[@reneeemigree9004]

The most excellent video, this is what we ran into this year. I now know how to identify suckers, and they are the little stems off of a msin side branch, of the main branch of the plant. They are actually found in the joints of the main branch and main side branch. It’s the little branch or stems in between both of them. But, we also became aware of overgrowth branches, that need to be cut. You just identified them by showing you must look for those overgrowth branches that would block sunlight and air, coming through, that is the answer to that puzzling question. And another rule is to keep the bottom @ 2” cut, meaning no branches, stems, down there. And I believe you just said, not to cut the top 1/3 of the plant, any growth up there. You might have said you have further instructions for the top 1/3 of growth, not sure, have to re-listen to video. But, you did say, check this at least weekly, for mainly suckers, or overgrowth, probably too. Thank you! Another interesting thing we learned is to not water the leaves, just the roots, and not oversaturate, just moist. Also, other tips on when putting in plant, using something, before putting plant in ground. Can’t remember, have it written down, the video, we learned it on….and they said use mulch around the bottom, bec if water, raining, something about the mulch will absorb it and won’t splash up on the plants as much, something like that. BUT, THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT VIDEO WE HAVE VIEWED REGARDING PRUNING OF SUCKERS, BUT ALSO, THIS OVERGROWTH PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED. TY AGAIN.

[@DevinTheGardener]

Awesome video! I learned alot and will be pruning my tomato plants soon!

[@JHW44]

Thank you for the video! I just started growing my own food and this video is very informational. I’m going to need to prune my plants tomorrow 😅

[@yessib7739]

Thank you, I voted for the watering video, but I really needed this one. Task accomplished.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Glad it helped! And no worries I am already preparing the watering video :) Should be up next week!

[@jonathansaenz8389]

Great video sir. Im just starting some tomatos and this will do great for my process. Thank you

[@Lee91522]

Thank you ❤️

[@MarsMicabalo]

An awesome idea and I will do it right now to my 6hills or tomatoes in our backyard. 👍

[@dmariewalker6880]

This is the exact video I needed. Why? Because I have tomatoe leaves, huge gorgeous leaves growing into the tomatoe plant next to it, and wanted to know if I could remove them. So TY for sharing your information with us and I will make sure I remove those leaves pointing down towards the ground, yes I noticed a few. Thanks!!

[@morkarmorgan3161]

very very good

[@denisestone8491]

I prune mine the same way but save my suckers for more plants. Especially if I like the variety or don’t have many plants that year.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

That is a great tip! I would do the same if I would have more space to plant more tomatoes :D

[@ss6273]

Okay, please explain how exactly, you do this? (Save suckers for more plants of the same?) thanks!

[@NMWriterofWords]

Me too

[@NMWriterofWords]

@@ss6273 when you cut a sucker off growing between a limb and the main stem (arm pit) put them in water and they grow roots.

[@alexestrov2000]

@@NMWriterofWords In my case, so far they don't grow roots.

[@lynnrushton7458]

Thank you so much! I’ve always been too scared to chop so many leaves/ branches off in case I killed the whole plant!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

So happy I could help you!

[@lceyeballgal5361]

Ive been gardening for years...this is well explained and video’d. I am also impressed with your watering and support system. Thank you!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Great to hear! Yes I put a lot of work in researching the best trellising and watering systems for my tomatoes. I will make video on those too :)

[@kolkotkoy2908]

@@SmallGardenQuest ae

[@lucasmaraton7192]

Small Garden Quest vi

[@lucasmaraton7192]

Nfkcucuvf c’est c juste cb y tu uvu BHV vu un BG chuchotes haut groggyl Guyf t ils u tutusiwtrrt y buter Ce rift qui c juin le hrudd de très

[@MarchetaGibson]

Thanks for the very clear introduction. Hi from Ohio, USA. :)

[@lemagreengreen]

Also if you're at all clumsy it's sometimes a good idea to keep a top sucker, if you break the main stem the top sucker will quickly become the main stem. Can just get rid of it if you are sure you don't need it but sometimes beginners will break a main stem or high winds etc.

[@TTTAPU]

🙏 thank you excellent video

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@drexburke]

Very helpful information on pruning. I was surprised to see you do not use mulch around your plants. Grass clippings, shredded leaves, etc. Mulch means almost no weeding, keeps moisture in the soil, and adds organic matter to your soil.

[@thomashassall96]

Thanks for the tips my friend 🙌

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Your welcome! How many tomatoes do you have that needs to be pruned?

[@thomashassall96]

Small Garden Quest only three plants but I think I’ve messed it up by taking the top off two of them too early..I’ll see what happens with them but I wish I’d watched your video first!!😅

[@Boondogsaint]

Ty just did this to all my beefsteak and Cherokee purple 😎👍🇺🇸

[@fraukeg.facchini2691]

Great video! The essential advice is to prune frequently before the suckers get out of hand. Also to keep the bottom leaves off the ground is really important. I also do square foot gardening in my small plot. 👏😊👍

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Great to know another fellow square foot gardener :)

[@ThanhNguyen-ne6bt]

Tég

[@simonrichardson353]

First year garden the tomatoes were planted with fish heads dusted in garden lime I have tomatoes fruits now I enjoyed the show thank you but I didn’t grow I had to prune a little today I lost some tomatoes because they touched the ground and they’re rotted I also planted some bok choy close by as a kind of green mulch they attracted all the caterpillars onto my tomatoes so I’m building some new garden bed I think the next time I’m going to be planting it with considerably a lot more basil and scallions and help Plus I planted Saccana not knowing how big a crowd and that’s taking over where my tomatoes are blocking out quite a considerable amount of sun I also planted pumpkin and I had no idea I know it’s actually taken off the entire garden but I am enjoying the process of learning

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Great! I applaud to you that you are enjoying the process of learning. This is the most important thing...that you enjoy and that you learn in at the same time!

[@ryandelatte3294]

Ayyeee are those terracotta pots?! Niceee

[@Christian-jx3nx]

What is your clay to compost ratio for potatoes in grow bags? Thank you

[@Sweetp520]

Hi I'm New .. I subscribed. What are the round bowls in the garden for ?

[@opelpraticetv4160]

Good

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Thanks

[@joe-annataylor4159]

Wow!! Now I might be more successful! Great ideas!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Go for it!

[@Themurphyshow7]

What are those terracotta pots in your garden used for? I was guessing adding compost directly to the garden bed, sorry if you have answered this question previously

[@SmallGardenQuest]

No problemo. I like the question :) Those pots are a self irrigation system that I will make a video on this week. Stay tunes ;)

[@Themurphyshow7]

@@SmallGardenQuest ah, cool, now I'm intrigued! I will

[@jean-pierreposman7282]

Hoor information. Thank you . Do you like it to do blind on video plaese ?

[@SmallGardenQuest]

I can do a blind pruning run :D

[@MelanieWebb112]

Thank you! I am just starting to try to grow tomatoes and this was very educational. I really appreciate all your videos!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

I am so happy to hear that. It its always a great feeling when you see you helped a fellow gardener :)

[@stvchannel3824]

👍👍

[@SmallGardenQuest]

👍👍👍👍

[@veracampbell9583]

Nice video I do mine the same way. We’ve had a lot of rain and I’m behind on pruning mine. Thank you for sharing.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Thanks for watching. Fortunately I have mine under a hoop house so that the rain doesn't bother them :) Wish you grow all the tomatoes you want :)

[@veracampbell9583]

Small Garden Quest thank you. You as well.

[@ellenm4839]

What purpose are the big terra cotta saucers serving in your garden? Thank you.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

This is an irrigation system I have. Here is a video about it kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIXYq2yeesl7f8U

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

If you prune tomato plants, do you ketchup plum trees?

[@SmallGardenQuest]

:D good one!

[@acrebythecreek7851]

ohhhh this is garden humor gold 😂

[@krishoneycutt884]

What are the clay pot for in the garden?

[@vkvillani]

I’m sorry if you already explained this, but I missed why you coil and tie a string around the main stem after pruning.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

I didn't explain it yet :) I am waiting a week or two so they grow a little bit and I will show you how I trellis them. So the string is in fact my trellis system :)

[@jj18057]

I am trying this support system for the first time this year.

[@Bimgamer2]

Hey any tips on how to get rid of green horn worms there killed multiple tomato plants of mine

[@SmallGardenQuest]

If you prune your tomato plants you will easily see them :D otherwise cover your tomatoes with some sort of netting to protect them. That is what I would do.

[@Bimgamer2]

@@SmallGardenQuest Thank you!

[@jaimerennaker2937]

What if the sucker branch has grown stronger and healthier than the branch it grew out of? Do you keep the sucker branch?

[@jaimerennaker2937]

I asked the same question

[@ourskillisourtrophy8089]

I have the same questions

[@SmallGardenQuest]

You have two options. You can cut the main stem and in the process your sucker will become your main stem or if you have the space for it leave both stems and grow a two stem tomato. I don't have the space in my square foot garden layout with only 1 foot per tomato.

[@roxanner8]

thank you so much. I learned a great deal.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Glad I could help!

[@blank9237]

How did I get here I was watching family guy five minutes ago and now I’m here

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Made my day :D

[@user-oy6fd3hy1n]

HOW MANY INCHES THE SOACE IN BETWEEN THE 2 TOMATOES...

[@user-zm4xo8yg9w]

What Are the difference between the determining tomatoes and indetermining tomatoes?

[@sibylla104]

determinate doesnt grow tall so you only prune suckers up to the first flower, just leave it

[@daisyll4908]

Will it matter if I prune in the morning or in the afternoon?

[@SmallGardenQuest]

No. Prune it when you can.

[@daisyll4908]

@@SmallGardenQuest, how often should I fertilize my tomato plant?

[@kamlasamlal3922]

Excellence

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Thank you!

[@kamlasamlal3922]

Thank you have a bless day

[@acrebythecreek7851]

great video! this is the same way I prune my tomato plants! I actually just made a similar video 🤗

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Thank you! I watched your video and your doing a great job. Got a new subscriber :D

[@stacygodfrey4939]

Wow, Thank you for teaching this!!! I have a lot of work to do on my tomato plants. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Just be careful that you have indeterminate tomato plants if you want to prune them like this :)

[@stacygodfrey4939]

Small Garden Quest Thank you!

[@stacygodfrey4939]

I am in Alabama, USA. I planted my first small garden this year. I planted tomatoes, green beans, Pinto beans, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, yellow squash and zucchini. I have only gotten about 5 tomatoes, a few green beans and that is it. 😞 I have blooms on my plants one day and the next they are gone. Chipmunks, rabbits and birds have been feasting!! My cantaloupe and watermelon are starting to come in. So I spent all evening putting chicken wire and fine netting around them. Fingers crossed I will be able to enjoy them. I just found your channel and I’m binge watching the videos. Take care!😊

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Wish you all the best and hope you find value in the videos

[@jikostravellingvlog]

can we cut from the top if we want???

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Do you mean? Cutting from the top to the bottom or cutting the top of? You can cut from the top to the bottom if you prefer it that way just leave the top foot of your plant intact. You can also cut the top of to promote tomato growth. I usually do it at the end of the season when I know there is not enough time to grow more tomatoes from new growth.

[@rathu555]

Why do keep the pot or plates in between the tomato plant ?

[@SmallGardenQuest]

This is my watering system. Is a pot dug in to the ground. I have a dedicated video for it if you are interested where I talk how to make it and how I use it :)

[@t.darrigo152]

Is it a must to prune the suckers???

[@residuevideos]

Congratz on how you managed to make a 30 second video into 10 minutes.

[@Chris-zr4yj]

We have a large garden with 30 plus plants, that said there is endless room for the roots which can reach almost 3 feet under the plant using hay clippings that keep moisture in and weeds under control. For my application I disagree with you because i keep the suckers and do want more tomatoes realizing they will be somewhat smaller but not by much. The reason I trim the sun branches is because air circulation is important against blight as you stated but the variety I grow ends up being an enormous indeterminate plant with huge Italian Roma variety tomatoes which I use for sauce, etc. When done trimming the plant does look anemic but is still a heathy plant. While your information is very useful to small gardens I hope younger people learn and continue to grow there own wonderful fruit and vegetables because if they do they will learn the old stored grocery store items can’t compare in flavor, also probably vitamins too.

[@tammygurl64]

This is very helpful and easy to understand. I find it interesting that you buried the entire egg instead of the eggshells alone in your garden. Eggshells are full of calcium so they're good for plants but I've always been told they should be washed so disease and animals aren't attracted. Do you always use the whole egg without any problems? Thanks! 🙂 Btw, did you ever prune blindfolded? 😊

[@SmallGardenQuest]

This is my first year. I used them under 6 plants and I will see how it goes. :) Will report here on KZbin :p

[@mzundastud07]

My top tip for using eggshells for calcium to help prevent Blossom End Rot is to save eggshells, pop in oven for 10 mins (will smell pretty awful - but really helps to crisp them up a bit for next step!) then put the eggs in an old coffee grinder and blitz to a fine dust - (worth wearing a face mask for this as you do NOT want to be breathing it in! Good job we all have face masks now eh!) then when planting simply add 1tbsp of the completely blitzed shell dust to the planting hole 👍🏼 it may sound like a lot of effort - but the plant can take up the calcium so much more easily - just broken shell does not break down like this dust 👍🏼 try it out! I had no BER using this method and will continue to do this in the future! 😁👍🏼

[@antennawilde]

@7:20 don't trim with scissors touching the dirt and then trim the branches above: Trim from the top down, and if your scissors touch the dirt wipe them with isopropyl alcohol or other astringent.

[@user-ee2uj2cd6q]

kain TV pleas!!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Is this some sort of gardening TV?

[@stasiapietal9897]

Porzyteczy program tylko bez tlumaczenie lub napisow nizrozumialy iniemozna z tego skorzystac jezeli to mozliwe bardzo prosze o takie umozliwienie zgorydziekuje

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Pracuję nad uzyskaniem profesjonalnego menedżera napisów.

[@truechitrillundercover1139]

q es esto

[@SmallGardenQuest]

How to prune tomatoes is the name of the game :)

[@jimmydemetriou7847]

eggshells do not provide calcium to the tomato plant by the time it has had its lifecycle. Calcium takes a very long time to break down. It needs to go through a chemical reaction for the calcium to become absorbable by the plant.

[@jasonmorrow9616]

Prune it blind! :-)

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Now I will actually need to do it :D Thank you Jason :p

[@katies-kitchen]

Prune them blind! :)

[@SmallGardenQuest]

I will :)

[@konfidential1911]

Prune them blind!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Now I cant back up :D

[@jonellebrooks3772]

Prune it blind!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

O . O

[@mmartin1964]

Prune it blind 👀

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Will try 🤣

[@mmartin1964]

@@SmallGardenQuest Can't wait to see that! 😂

[@MeekersDad]

Prune them blind.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

:D will do :D

[@Bloodstock64]

Why Prune them? Larger tomatoes, opposed to smaller maters? I don't see nature do it? And then the following year you BETTER pick the right kind of fertilizer. None of Those tomato fertilizers (with the lovely package design) Lightly (AND I EMPHASIZE LIGHT) use a 10-10-10 and plenty of lime the following spring.Use too much and you'll have beautiful plants WITH NO TOMATOES from OVER fertilizing. I'm 56 and grew my first plant when I was 4, so I'd say I'd have some experience growing maters. LEAVE THOSE "SUCKERS" ON. - GPJ

[@SmallGardenQuest]

If you have the climate to do you can. I am not saying that you cant grow tomatoes without pruning in your region but in mine I cant. The tomato will get blight and will die in mater of days. Also maybe you grew determinate varieties. Those one you don't need to prune :) And I don't fertilize with industry made fertilizers. I use my home grown compost :)

[@EduardBP]

Too long intro mate. Get on with it! People are busy.

[@thekailbrothers]

Prune them blind bruvs

[@LUCKYLADY000000]

Too repetitive. This video could be done in a quater of the time.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Thank you for your feedback. I was aiming to be repetitive so someone who never done tomato pruning could see it several times to remember 🍅

[@LindsAyWithAttitude]

No. Don't do it blind!! lol

[@SmallGardenQuest]

I will blindfold myself and prune one of the tomatoes this year to show how simple it is :)

[@pattrickfontenot8323]

Cut them blind

[@SmallGardenQuest]

This will be my next special celebration video! Pruning tomatoes blind :D

[@vanessaserna8404]

Prune them blind!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

I think a special video is coming :)

[@solepropt]

Prune them blind.

[@SmallGardenQuest]

I will just you wait a month or two when my tomatoes will grow a little bit

[@stefanietaylor1065]

Prune them blind!