How to Prune Tomatoes for Maximum Yield and Plant Health

[@epicgardening]

Any pruning methods you guys use that I didn't talk about? DROP EM BELOWWWW!

[@augustxanne]

Great video as usual! Thank your for all your help. You've completely guided me through my first garden and I've had epic results so far! I've unfortunately made a rookie mistake. I have a new large raised bed and bought several bags of EB Stone potting soil. How can I make that suitable for my large raised bed? The guy at the nursery said to just add compost. Can you verify that and to what ratio per bag? Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@Tehstool]

You don't necessarily have to prune off entire branches/suckers. If the suckers are flowering, you can just top them for example. Or if you are trying to gradually prune the plant to keep maximum photsynthesis efficiency, you can sometimes prune half of the leaf branch to keep some leaves. If they have disease then I'd just prune the entire branch though.

[@epicgardening]

@@augustxanne Yeah you bought potting soil, so you should be able to grow in it just fine 1st season, just keep adding compost

[@johndaas5877]

My wife and I are trying to guess your ethnicity. Not that it makes a difference. we love your videos.

[@karenramcharan8983]

Hey...so I had transplanted 4 seedlings in a pot which I thought would have been ok but they began flowering now and I think are now too bushy for the pot and mY not be getting proper airflow....they are about 18 inches high , is it to late to transfer to new pots as they have began to flower? It will kill me if they die!!!!!!!!! They are so healthy.

[@BJayGee1]

Back when I was in my 30s, I had several very large Beefsteak tomatoe plants in my garden. It came to the end of the season and temps were dropping, but my plants were FULL of green tomatoes. So I dug them out and tied a rope to the roots and hung my plants upside-down from the rafters in my garage! They continued to grow, ripen and produce fruit for months! I was able to pick tomatoes anytime I wanted to. 😋 Best year ever!!😂

[@markasteelsr.5990]

I heard of this! If I had a garage, hmmmmmmm I would do so! Maybe I can set something up in the first floor utility room.

[@saubie]

was your garage well lit, or did you use any type of light? this is a really cool idea

[@amynoonanmusic]

Wild!! I'd LOVE to try that sometime!!

[@randallsmerna384]

Did you water them at all?

[@TheWorldByBucksEye]

You just take them off green they ripen off the vine in the fruit bowl, take some off green to keep your yield fresh longer too. Edit- because off the vine the ripen slower but not at any less of a quality.

[@donaldhodgins]

I've been growing these tasty treats for over 50 years. Hint! Take a two-liter pop bottle and cut off the bottom. Remove the cap and bury the container at a 45-degree angle so the small end is adjacent to the root ball. Add a small rock to the inside of the container to give it some weight. When you want to water your plant just add the water to the open end of the bottle. This saves water and your tomato plants will thank you by bearing a great crop. Don't forget to pinch those suckers. I live in Michigan and I get my plants to reach 14 feet or better. If you want to fertilize just add the nutrients to the bottle and then add the water. I have been using this method for decades and no one can match my yield. Good luck.

[@tinydanceryoutube]

Brilliant. Thank you!

[@_JimmyBeGood]

What does this do? Concentrate the water at the root ball?

[@cassandrabenson4963]

Ty for this, I have let mine go wild a bit only in my 3rd year of growing tomatoes so also I don’t even know if mine are the two he’s talking about any ways if I prune all my tomato plants in the way he says will I kill them by cutting it way back? Again thank you 🌱🌿🍅🍅

[@cassandrabenson4963]

Ty for this, I have let mine go wild a bit only in my 3rd year of growing tomatoes so also I don’t even know if mine are the two he’s talking about any ways if I prune all my tomato plants in the way he says will I kill them by cutting it way back? Again thank you 🌱🌿🍅🍅 and I’m in central Minnesota

[@se_me1756]

My grandfather used to do this! ❤

[@susankranz6729]

THANK YOU!!! I am in east central Wisconsin, my growing season is generally Memorial Day through mid-September. This year I jumped the gun and planted my garden in mid-May, had a close call with cold temperatures one night, but otherwise all is good! Anyway, after years and years of gardening with mediocre results, this year I changed out the whole garden. New raised boxes, fresh growing medium. I started my tomato seeds indoors in early April, planted very cute plantlets. I have never pruned my tomatoes, thinking more plant, more fruit. Every year I had leaf wilt, not too many tomatoes. So after watching your videos, I am being relentless with pruning. Suckers and lower leaves are being removed weekly, and I have the most beautiful tomato crop I have ever grown! The plants are all healthy, fruit is being set and I should be enjoying my first tomatoes in two weeks! No sign of blight or any other disease! I am very thankful.

[@billehrmentraut4773]

😊

[@ericpierce3660]

You're a really good teacher, nice speaking style, good voice modulation, very clear explanations. Well done!

[@norwegiannignog2470]

@Cowboy Bebop and Ready Rock Steady of course the degenerate anime watcher got something to say

[@lawrencetarprah1181]

Did less talking to himself and more teaching.

[@stonedtempleshaman1544]

suixide madn3ss i

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

I am sharing with you my short animation video on humanity, I hope you will find it useful and clear: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e33NmIepbKd5eZY

[@supersixone9848]

He is all of that. I would hate to graded by you lol

[@brandysims689]

Your videos are my FAVORITE! It's such a relief to see someone who can speak well, choose his words well, provide necessary details in an organized way, AND get a lot of info without having to watch for 30 minutes! Thank you for sharing your passion and GIFT with us!

[@TheGaredbug]

Exactly. I hate trying to watch a video where the person spends the first 10 minutes rambling on before they actually dive into the topic in their title. Often I just opt out.

[@myopinion3496]

@@TheGaredbug Exactly! Why use a hundred words when 6 or 7 will do.

[@AmoneyC]

It's crazy to me how in depth gardening really can be. I have lots to learn

[@Mike-qp8bv]

Your not kidding ! I've been gardening for years and now that I'm retired at 50, I've decided to take it a little more seriously. My mum taught me lots of things when I was little. But like anything else if your really not interested the information doesn't stick. I've decided that every year I will take one vegetable and learn as much as I can about it. My beans and peppers are fabulous. This year is tomatoes. Next year I think will be carrots. At the cost of produce now I want to get as much as possible. Prices are only getting worse.

[@TheHeroChoncho]

@@Mike-qp8bv Thats actually a good idea. Right now I have a couple tomato and jalapeno plants. There is so much about those two types of fruit it's wild lol I'll probably do a couple different plants every season and learn as much as I can

[@_JimmyBeGood]

That’s life. Life will never totally be figured out by us.

[@godandcountry8218]

me too 🙄

[@madskihl3651]

I just love the morning rutine, few silent minutts before kids get up. Look over our plants, water if needed and take away some weeds. Its therapy tbh. Im testing iout different stuff, from raised beds, buckets, trying to make new trees, and now also hydroponics. All for learning. As a family we love to watch it grow and looking forward to start planning next season. Because next year we will have a plan behind it all and start much earlier. PS forgot to mention, i just love the channel, its what got me started in the first place

[@bettywatson8828]

I once had a tomato plant in a container that the dog knocked it over and broke off a large sucker. The main plant was about 3 feet tall and the sucker was about 2 feet. I planted the sucker in another container as deep as I could. I got more tomatoes from the 2nd plant than I did from the original one.

[@epicgardening]

So awesome

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH6afWyunsqGjs0

[@vadamsable]

Good to know that if I cut off the wrong piece, I may be able to redeem myself. Planting is not easy or simple.

[@g.cosper]

@@vadamsable Planting is very easy, success is tricksy!

[@georgefurman7652]

I was always under the impression that I had to remove every sucker. But it seems you're suggesting to leave 2 or 3 per plant and they will produce fruit?

[@lovelearn5158]

While watching your video and pausing at each new instruction, I'm chopping off the unneeded parts of the tomato plants! Thank you for making this such as enjoyable learning experience :)

[@kenzie12101996]

I decided to grow some romas from seed this season. I planted around 30 seeds, expecting only a few of them to make it but PLOT TWIST 22 OF THEM MADE IT! Everyone in the family got like 5 tomato plants XD

[@phifediggy9659]

I prefer San Marzanos way better taste, I'm always in the same boat with tomatoes, peppers, and gherkins. Good problem to have though, loads of plants for family and friends, make sure you have a few backups just in case some don't do well, quickly remove any diseased ones

[@jwhite007jw]

That's wonderful🙏

[@heidimull]

I just watched your video and went out and pruned my tomato plants for the very first time. I'm a first year gardener and was just letting them run completely wild, but several were not doing so well and when I read up that not pruning could cause bad things, I looked up our video to find out how to do it. Thanks for the helpful info!

[@menow7851]

Watch Living Traditions Homestead on KZbin. Learn a lot about growing food & preserving it.

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello my lovely friend

[@Thingys-Jill]

Love your voice and well-thought-out videos. Here's the saying I live by, "if it's furry, you can bury (the stem)" and that holds for any stem that is furry. Furry stems grow roots. Edited to add that after adding a bit of bone meal and worm castings to the hole, I will also plant tomatoes horizontally up to the first set of leaves for a much stronger root system. Once it's grown, I prune the bottom foot of leaves/stems and underplant. I also always plant basil, onions, petunias, and borage with my tomatoes to ward off hornworms and other pests.

[@teaartist6455]

I'm not sure about other fuzzy plants, but based on what I know it's not necessarily about being furry, but about being a nightshade. Peppers can also grow roots along the stem (Unless it's already become woody) and they're really smooth. (I've actually watched them and based on what I saw both tomatoes and peppers actually grow little bumps on the stem that then turn into roots which would suggest that the furryness of the stem has nothing to do with it.)

[@shaunabryant3570]

I'm a first time gardener this year and I also live in San Diego!! I knew that tomato plants needed to be pruned and I've watched a few other videos on that but was still confused about what exactly I'm supposed to prune so I've just kind of left my tom plants alone. But I know they need a little bit of pruning now so thanks to you I think I understand so much better than before. I love all of my plants so much and want to take the best care I can for them to really thrive. Thanks for being to the point in your vid and very clear! I appreciate that so much!!

[@jen4696]

This is the best pruning video I've ever seen, after searching all season. Thank you so so much! I'm confident my next tomato plants are going to be 10 times better than this year.

[@FootFungusTreatment_Tao]

One important factor to consider when pruning tomato plants is the type of tomato you're growing. Determinate tomatoes, for example, require less pruning than indeterminate tomatoes. Determinate varieties tend to be more compact and bush-like, with a limited growth period. On the other hand, indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season, requiring more pruning to promote optimal fruit production. By understanding the differences between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes, and the best pruning techniques for each, you'll be able to promote plant health and maximize your tomato yield.

[@joedzikowich3117]

​@@FootFungusTreatment_Tao7:21

[@rprcharron]

So, were they?

[@amyho8831]

In dutch we call the suckers, "Thieves" :') thank you for this vid, I've been looking for a good vid because I couldn't understand all the vague explanation from other creators. You're the first one that explains so well how to recognize a sucker and which one to cut. Thank you!!!

[@dustinvanhoose6186]

Hey there, could you please do another tomato video focusing on what the leafs/leaves are trying to tell us for example: turning yellow, curling down or up, getting spots......you know like deficiencies or diseases. I recently just found your channel and really appreciate the content and information and also want to say your videos are extremely therapeutic! Thanks again

[@s731s]

this comment is a year old but interested in this as well, wondering if that video was ever made?

[@umiluv]

Turning yellow and curling down typically means overwatering. Leaves curling up is that it’s too hot or windy. You can alleviate by using shade cloth.

[@se5594]

@@umiluv what's a shade cloth? First I've heard of that

[@nobody20005]

@@se5594 I am putting up bird netting to shade my tomatoes this year. I am using plastic tubing for a frame and connecting the netting by using clips so it can be opened and closed like a curtain.

[@shayzied]

I've just begun to take growing our own vegetables seriously so I didn't know you need to prune tomatoes at all! This was so informative and made it very clear which suckers to remove from the plants and why. Thanks!

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello my lovely friend

[@kerrikendall9670]

THANK YOU! This was the best pruning video I've seen. My indeterminate plants get away from me every year, and every year I pledge to stay on top of it (epic fail). You explaining that the suckers produce flowers/fruit, but prune them anyway, has cut through so much of my confusion.

[@serenitylost1]

In light of all the stress of 2020 this video made me very happy. I am in San Diego. Out to the garden I go!!! Peace to anyone who sees my comment.

[@nicoleduckery4067]

Just saw this in June 2021. Peace to you as well.

[@williamlinton9398]

It would be great to do a follow-up video where you have two plants each, of both determinate and indeterminate varieties, that had been treated the same way, to show the difference between the benefits of pruning vs non-pruning. This video was done in March, perhaps next season you could do a season follow-through video to show pruning throughout the season.

[@TheGuruStud]

Ppl won't like the outcome 🤣

[@nobodyreally8441]

@@TheGuruStud honest question, why?

[@donaldduck830]

@@nobodyreally8441 About 5 years ago I got a "wild" tomato. I was told that I would not need to prune them. It was impossible to keep them standing, so they collapsed and covered half the balcony and I could hardly harvest them. And there was some kind of bug in them that left droppings and white fly that left the entire area sticky with the sugary sap they excrete. I had to clean the balcony with a high pressure water thingy. Last year, I had the same variety again and pruned them a lot. The result was fantastic. Lots of nice, well-tasting and clean tomatoes. An unpruned tomato is just a waste of space and an incubator for pests. Seriously. PS: I tried dozens of varieties for more than a decade, you can trust me with this.

[@chrischambless]

Please do a part 2 where you go more in depth on various pruning strategies. Single leader, double leader, etc. I’d like to hear the pros and cons and reasoning behind each strategy. I did single in all my plants last year and my harvest was meh. So I’m going bushier this time around but I dont know WHY. Just trying something different. Thanks.

[@karenhenderson9024]

PHI :4/13

[@MichaelMarrero]

Incredible. I just mentioned to a friend I have to prune a tomato plant and here you are posting a video. Very helpful video. Will put these tips to work.

[@epicgardening]

Great!

[@arcburn6340]

your phone is always listening. Always listening.

[@MichaelMarrero]

@@arcburn6340 Well it's doing a good job.

[@irinbon6207]

Google knows what you're talking about with your buddy.

[@awiggins7031]

@@irinbon6207 Spies everywhere now! Even the corn has ears!

[@Nimbleful]

Hey Kevin, You know, I wasn't even into gardening before I watched one of your videos a couple weeks ago, and after seeing your passion and enthusiasm together with your fantastic clear teaching style - all delivered in your beautiful calm, confident, reassuring energy - you got me hooked and I'm now starting to grow veggies from seed for the first time in my life! Thank you so much for sharing your passion with the world ^_^

[@thisisforvids]

What veggies are you growing? This is my first 'real' growing year too!! I wish you all the best luck!!

[@nannynatalie]

I love this comment soooo much!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@whoviankaleigh4113]

Are you still growing stuff?

[@Nimbleful]

​@@whoviankaleigh4113 yes! I'm still growing stuff 1 year later! Last year for my first ever grows I grew zucchini and chard. It was so much fun that this year I'm back to growing. This time round I'm doing sunchokes, gem squash, green beans and runner beans, as well as nasturtiums & marigolds ^_^

[@democratpro]

Do u drive a prius or a suburu?

[@werscarry]

Hey, loving the vid, just need to clear up some minor confusion; in Greek Mythology, it was the Hydra that regrew heads (made famous in Disney's Hercules), while Medusa was a creature called a Gorgon, that had snakes for hair and would turn you to stone if you looked into its eyes. Having cleared that up, I'm now going to go prune my San Marzano!

[@blossumgang1357]

I initially started watching your videos because one of them got randomly recommended and then I kinda went down a rabbit hole of your videos. Before, I never really was interested or into gardening but now I'm thinking about getting into it.

[@epicgardening]

You have to start now!

[@h.s.6269]

It is a great hobby to get into! Especially with the concern of food security during the pandemic.

[@sarennekoelsch3150]

I was researching grow lights and stumbled on an older video as well... Now I'm enjoying the rabbit hole too! 🤣

[@janetcw9808]

You will LOVE it ❤️👍🏻

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH6afWyunsqGjs0

[@rajillustration]

This was so incredibly helpful! I've never actually pruned a tomato in my life out of just fear of killing the plant--but this makes it less daunting.

[@miketuli88]

we have a 4x4 raised bed for out tomatoes, it is about 16 inches deep, the last 4 years we have gotten amazing results by pretty much leaving them alone, we use SEVIN 7 and miracle gro raised garden bed soil as well as miracle gro feeding once week. The plants generally grow to about 6-7 feet with tremendous yeilds, san marzano, roma, and cherries

[@rebeccan7276]

Not pruning above the first flowers on a determinate tomato is the wisdom I was searching for for so long! Thank you!

[@raceface_m2579]

Great tips! I’ve learned how to make baby tomatoes by fingering, vibrating, and gently flicking the flowers 2 days ago. I tried it out yesterday and got great results. Flowers closed upon inspection this morning which meant that the pollen has been distributed.

[@BAZZAROU812]

This sounds like a adult film process.. But anything for a great early girl.. 🍅

[@willibobsful]

I use an electric toothbrush to vibrate my tom flowers.

[@solitarybichcraft6821]

I watch at least one of your videos a day. I finally started my first little renter friendly garden and I feel confident with the tools you have given us!

[@Braham_the_Terror]

Hope it's working out for you :)

[@constancemiller3753]

I've used toenail clippers to prune tomatoes. Easy to clean, fits in tight spots and I don't get as carried away cleaning up. Tomatoes spa day🍅🌞🛁

[@paultyler7355]

Do your tom...s taste or smell like feet,curious?

[@katiehemstreet8939]

Use cat nail Clippers, they're even better!

[@denisesteps]

Whenever I need some relaxing content, I tune in to Epic Gardening! Thank you so much Kevin!

[@arolahn]

Super useful and clear instructions. I needed a refresher on how to prune both types of tomato, and this was even more informative and helpful than what I was taught initially. Feels like I understand it so much better now, so am unlikely to forget again. Also, had NO idea the trimmed out suckers were actually viable. All these years I’ve wasted perfectly good sports…never again! Thanks so much for producing this video.

[@GYH.2023]

Yes 👍! Got it! BUT I know I will still search again next year when I reach for the scissors to prune suckers hahaha

[@arcanemoonjewelry]

My tomatoes grow and produce year-round in Sacramento, CA as long as I protect them from the early frosts killing them off. Been doing it for decades - had two tomato plants last 6 years before a surprise frost got them.

[@rhettlyle4186]

That must have been emotional

[@arcanemoonjewelry]

@@rhettlyle4186 no i considered myself lucky to have them that long since everyone else I know plows them under. never understood it when the plant is continuing to produce.

[@danielguerra349]

What did you do to protect them ? I am in the sacramento area

[@catherineanderson3393]

I just realized I have been doing it wrong - I've been cutting the "sun leaves" and leaving the suckers -- hopefully I can correct it now and not have damaged my plants. Thank you for the advice!

[@moregarcia9300]

Me too 😱😱😭

[@nornironniall]

Guys, don't worry, it's all a learning process, there's always next season!

[@charityzydiak8908]

A sucker can create another sucker…a sucker-ception 🤣 Had me laughing 😅

[@lifewith2youtubers217]

I started my cherry tomatoes hydroponically, then moved them to dirt. They transitioned beautifully! Great tips on pruning, thanks

[@lindakean7392]

Good to know. Im about to do the same,,

[@harleenbadesha3973]

Thank you for keeping this video so simple and to the point. I've been losing my mind over all the tomato pruning videos and your videos are a constant reminder to keep my garden as simple as possible and let them do their thing!

[@trashcatlinol]

I got on the farmers almanac website and learned a lot about planting seasons. I'm slightly new to gardening. My grandparents did it, but my mom was a neglectful gardener, so I gotta learn from ground up. I've managed a few plants in my apartment, especially a beautiful indeterminate cherry tomato I barely got to harvest before I started getting too sick to care for it. It gave me hope to try again, and pruning was one of my biggest concerns! I might try a determinate and indeterminate and see which I like to care for better. I tend to prefer simpler care, but my indeterminate did so well it was worth it! I really want to grow ancho chilies for drying as I use them in a homemade taco mix I adore! I'm also looking to grow heirloom tomatoes, as I want to make sure I can save seeds for future use. I hope this year we can do well, as I got a new dehydrator that I want to try out! I love to make 'hamburger helper' packs and having a wider range of veggies than I can buy in store will be great!

[@missanthropy5808]

Diy hamburger helper sounds yummy. Any recipes you don't mind sharing?

[@jonathanrogers9961]

So incredibly helpful, thank you. Never pruned before, plants did ok but never had high yield. This year the plants did well but turned into giant bushes. I went through and trimmed off ALL the extra Mains since they were trying to go so wide instead of tall. It was a bit aggressive I think but I wanted to get them back on the right track. Its been about 1 week and all 4 plants are doing well and they have all started producing a TON of tomatoes! thank you!

[@trashcatlinol]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I let an indeterminate container tomato run wild and was impressed with the yeild, but figuredpruning was optional... I hope to get better results this year!

[@gregoryphipps1302]

I leave and encourage what you call suckers, prune a lot of feeder leaves initially. This produces a lot of blooms. When my plants reach about 5', I start topping. I tie them up along the way. I end up with so many tomatoes that I can give my neighbors plastic grocery bags full and still have more than we can put up for winter. All from 12 plants, 3 varieties. Also, I only prune later in the evening and water just before dark. I use 1tbls of Miracle grow to 1gal of water in a watering can applying 10 seconds to the base of the plant once a week til 1/2 to 3/4 of the season. During times of no rain I water early morning and late evening.

[@judyechols8957]

I’ve done minimal pruning. I have to now as my tomatoes are 5 ft high and bunched together. I bought red earth worms for my garden and wow!! My garden took off. I compost to feed the worms. Fantastic results. Real organic gardening.

[@christinayeung4041]

Ironically, I just pruned my tomato plants yesterday, and here I am starting this vid now hoping to find out that I did it right... Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[@rebeccagrrrl2699]

Christina Yeung me too, and I did it wrong.... 😔🙄

[@stevenfriedman2902]

I'm curious. Now that you watched the video how do you think you did? Even after watching the video I'm still hoping I don't mess up with pruning my Roma tomatoes

[@christinayeung4041]

Steven Friedman my plants actually turned out doing much better! Even though I didn't do everything right, but trimming the leaves off the ground and taking off the suckers that didn't have fruit on them really helped them. I still don't think I do it right, but my tomato plants have been fruiting like CRAZY! My current trimming method is taking off all the leaves that don't get sufficient sun, taking off dead/unhealthy growths, and making sure nothing touches the ground (unless it's a fruit, then I put a plate underneath it). My whole mindset is to make sure there's good airflow through the plant, and not letting it waste energy on "useless" growth. I hope you're plants area doing well too! They seem to really LOVE this heat.

[@iramarkartz2681]

I've been growing tomatoes for about 15 years, and learn something new every year. I grow about 10-12 at once, in 15 gallon pots. This year, I let two over-winter (So CA) and they've been producing flowers and just beginning to fruit. Question: are overwintered tomatoes better tasting, stronger/stable plants? If not, then I would just start fresh with new soil and new plants. Thanks, btw. The pruning video is great.

[@jeffnelson3189]

Thank you for this video! I've been growing a couple indeterminate tomato plants in my garden here in Wisconsin for the past few years and I've been wondering how to prune them properly! I've just been letting them grow unchecked next to the stairway to our deck and they eventually take over the stairway! Now I know for next year how to properly prune them so they don't get out of hand! Thank you!

[@christinatareski8882]

I never thought about topping off my indeterminates near the end of the season! Makes so much sense. We start getting freezing night temps in October (Fargo) and then I feel like my counters are covered in TONS of green fruit to ripen. Going to top of at the end of September to get those last tomatoes ripened.

[@downunderthunder2538]

My favourite veg they grow all year round where I live in Northern Tropical Australia but the bloody bugs love them,I find the small cherry varieties the best the bugs seem to leave them alone great channel keep it up!

[@amynoonanmusic]

Kevin, this was SO. GOOD. I'm a new gardener, but I've been a subscriber of yours for a loooong time. I remember your patio tomatoes! Anyway, I've learned a ton from you and your in-depth tomato videos are helping me SO much right now in my garden. I just "went for it" with my husband 🤦🏻‍♀ It's been fun and a bit frustrating at times, but always so rewarding. We have way too many tomato plants along our trellis...I thought it would barely grow. Now I know I can take some suckers off my suffering tomato plants and put them somewhere else! Thank you!!

[@FoundationForFamilyFreedom]

What a Cool 😎 Tomato Cage! You're bringing gardening to the next level of fabulous. I'm so glad you bought Botanical Interests. Your vibe is bringing B.I. luck because I've had better germination rate this last year. So thank you for all that you do in this space. Growing our own food is the upmost important skill we can refine, especially in 2023 and beyond. SHTF a long time ago, we're just realizing it now. I have heard mother earth calling me back to her and the basics, as well as forming a relationship with plants (they are conscious energies and matter just like us). Plants are life!

[@jenm4137]

6:06 - 6:16 is the best advice you could ever give anyone and meee!!! I was looking for the video I saved that someone said about the flower and pruning but I couldn’t remember the rule of thumb thank you thank you thank you!!!! I would love to send you pics of my potted tomato plants 🌱 they are flourishing! 😍😍😍😍

[@elysharay1941]

This explains why my kids’ Nana struggled w her tomato plants last summer. Her fruit almost 100% of the time had this thick, brown line through it (reminded me of the Pepsi symbol) and if they weren’t like that, they were diseased. She had no problem w all the lush, green foliage and the plant was taller than me (I’m 5’6). The summer before when she first planted her tomato, she yielded large, sweet and super beautiful tomato in great abundance. She thought this year she will either move her garden or build a greenhouse but looking back as I have pics and videos, there was no pruning so not enough energy went to the fruit itself due to TONS of suckers on top of suckers! Side note…she also planted mint relatively close to her tomaters and that herb spread like a darn disease overtaking her garden. She probably should’ve planted her mint, oregano, and parsley in either a container or raised bed. While I’m on this subject, can you perhaps cover a topic in gardening about plants that root faster than others and may hinder the growth of plants such as the mint infiltrating Nana’s garden? And your solution(s)? I haven’t been able to find much info on that. Thanks!

[@franksinatra1070]

Great video! I grow early girl indeterminates and they want to grow to the sky so to encourage more growth as the plants climb upward by letting more than 4 main branches go and start topping early to slow the height down a little. I end up with a nice semi bushy plant that still grows 10' or more and produces tons of medium size tomatoes. I'm in zone 6 BTW.

[@nemstanisic3605]

Great information for those like me who are just learning the basics of growing healthy food. Thank you.

[@Tsukaiyo]

Until now, I only knew to prune suckers that were sprouting right out of sunleaves. My beefsteak plants got HUGE and kept toppling over - the tomato cages and stakes I used were no match for them. When clearing them out at the end of the season, we found not only dozens of tomatoes hidden in the thick foliage but one was covered in fungus at the very base! They also crowded out most of the interplanted herbs. Very glad I know how to control them now, can't wait to try it!

[@killer408cid]

Just remember...all of the minerals the tomato plant needs to make fruit (except what you add by foliar feeding) have to come from the soil through that single stem. So if you want more fruit, you need more plants, not bushier plants. So trim off that sucker and plant it, where it will actually accomplish something. Let your indeterminate tomatoes grow as a single vine, continually trimming off lower leaves. When it gets long (tall), just tie it and let it start hanging down. At a certain point, you can even have it turn up for a second upwards growth section if your season is long enough. This whole time you should have what is essentially a small area of leaf and fruit connected to the soil via a long, leafless vine.

[@TheGuruStud]

Meh, not really. I keep 8 vines per plant. They produce heavily. You need good soil. My main stem starts looking like a tree trunk.

[@killer408cid]

@@TheGuruStud surely, you're not implying that your 8 vines produce as much as if they were 8 separate, well-pruned vines. I know the cost of those extra 7 tomato seeds would cripple you financially, but....

[@TheGuruStud]

@@killer408cid of course they do once the suckers have matured (obviously takes a little more time initially for them to flower). And even if they didn't, what does it matter? You're the sucker pruning for hours and wasting space. I'm out producing you for the effort by a mile and a lot of the fruits are protected under a canopy. Go ahead and spend more time netting your plants to keep away birds, etc. (Pro tip: if birds aren't taking bites out of your stuff, then it's not good). Are you expecting me to grow 20 ft plants and prune daily? Yeah, they already grow 8ft with all those stems in meh soil (no, I'm not juicing them). I usually have about 20 plants. That's easy to till, plant, water, prune. Are you suggesting I plant and maintain over 100?!

[@killer408cid]

@@teressastone56 yield per square foot goes up. As long as tomato seeds are cheap as chips, "per plant" is meaningless.

[@TheGuruStud]

@@killer408cid I'm not starting seeds indoors in February (don't have a greenhouse or adequate lighting), so per plant is important when getting large seedlings for a big jump start on the season. They're 4 dollars each for healthy plants. And you ignored the work required for tons of plants. (I could just sow seeds in and let them sprout naturally, but that's a MASSIVE gamble. The weather is terrible. They could all rot, not germinate till middle of may, or grow then rot from too much rain/cold).

[@supersnoco]

Thanks so much for this awesome lesson! I've got about 10 heirloom varieties, from dwarf indet. Firebirds to blue Romas, a plant called Gargamel 😆 and some orange cherries. That thing was so unruly last year, but as you mentioned, they can produce well into the autumn season. This thing gave fruit until November, and I live in Michigan!

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Anna

[@wlhawkin]

Excellent video! I checked all my tomatoes to see if they were determinate or indeterminate. They're all indeterminate so easy decisions. I took note and now I'm going to prune. Thank you!

[@ruthcowden1386]

This was the most clear and concise description of pruning tomatoes. Great job!

[@donnadavison20]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, for explaining the pruning so thoroughly. I have read different articles, but watching and listening to you brought everything together.

[@HarrySatchelWhatsThatSmell]

I'm here in Zone 9A and we haven't had a frost in at least 2 years. I'll be putting in my first very San Marzano Tomatoes in April. Lot's of good info in the video!

[@gailw8999]

I have never herd of pruning tomatoes, thank you this makes sense.

[@charlesdobbs4570]

Just learned you can Top off your Peppers also. I topped a few last week and it has made a big difference . I waited till the plant had 4 to 5 sets of leaves then chop, The lower branches have just taken off. Good luck.

[@JenniVander]

This was a REVELATION! You have changed my tomato gardening life 😭❤️

[@dennisehernandez4022]

Thank you so much for this video! ❤️ My father in law almost yanked his 5ft tomato’s plant because the bottom was starting to turn yellow. I changed his mind and shared you’re video with him! Excited 💃🏻🍅

[@rkbarry]

Dude. I’ve been growing tomatoes for forty years. I never knew this. Holy cow!

[@kennethscott8669]

First time growing tomatoes. Obviously didn't research enough prior to planting 🤣 my 2 tomato beds are WILD. Unruly doesn't describe it. Thanks for the breakdown. I've got some work to do!

[@LisaM7170]

Same!

[@lynaezebest109]

I am in zone 10b (in San Francisco) and you are the BEST resource I have found for our specific zone anywhere on the internet! This video inspired me to overwinter my tomatoes last year. I had mixed results...they all lived, and 1 even held onto a piece of green fruit from september until it ripened in the spring! But, in the spring we had a couple nights in the mid 30s, they did all die back quite a bit, and have been slow to regrow. They've had a big head start on my tomatoes I started from seed - but waaay behind the 2 plants I bought. This winter I plan to take a little more care and maybe move them inside some kind of row cover/improvised greenhouse to insulate them from low temps a bit better!

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Lynae

[@jennyd9543]

Near the end of the summer ( mid-august for me in Ontario) I remove any flowers on the plant, not just at the top, so that all the energy goes into the fruit that has already set.

[@epicgardening]

Great tip!

[@melissajeffrey3231]

Does the plant die off after that or come back next season?

[@stevet8121]

@@melissajeffrey3231 Tomato plants only live one season regardless. You need new plants every year.

[@paultyler7355]

@@stevet8121 save one tomato,let rot,plant next spring,violla

[@calmauric8218]

@@melissajeffrey3231 another good thing to do if you bought a heirloom veriety, save just one ripe tomatoe from your healthiest plant, slice it thin and dry out all those seeds, store them bone dry for next season. - hope thats useful!

[@jenm4137]

Gardening is so magical to me! Like who knew you could take a sucker and propagate it and plant 🌱as a new plant 🤯🤯🤯

[@shellyjoe6657]

I need a tomato plant intervention, I was so proud how big and lush my plants were growing, then suddenly my back porch started to look like a jungle and I couldn't water them enough. I also had some of my medium tomatoes with rot on the bottom. I read up and realized I needed more calcium and less branches! I just went to town pruning them and added milk and tums to the water. I pray this helps!

[@krissyseyebeatz2901]

Thanks for this video. Definitely feeling more confident about pruning my tomato plants and replanting the sucker stems for growing more tomato plants. Will post a follow up comment to tell of my results.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I would try air layering them.

[@Krakaet]

Thank you for this video, I found this so informative! I have only grown indeterminate tomato varieties without really knowing it and would always wonder why the plants would get so dang out-of-control. Now I know :)

[@adammaxwell5961]

This is so helpful. I've read a lot of articles which, after spending 13 minutes watching this tutorial, now feel like wasted time. :)

[@tiffanyb6787]

This was so incredibly helpful! I didn't prune my indeterminate last year as I was so lost. This has been wildly helpful

[@bujing55]

Thank you Kevin for your videos. I recently started a balcony garden and your videos have been sooooo helpful. I'm looking forward to my first harvest soon. Thanks again!!!

[@osiris3550]

Super useful. I just planted my first tomato’s ever and probably should have done more research first but better late than never. Presenter has a very pleasant and appealing style/voice. **subscribed**

[@RayPoreon]

You got medusa confused with a hydra. Its the lernaean hydra that grows new heads after being cut off, medusa is the woman cursed to be a gorgon(snake heared lady that turns people to stone) by aphrodite.

[@Mike-qp8bv]

I've been growing tomatoes for several years now and I've finally decided that pruning them may be benificial. I've watched several videos now and learned the most from this one. Last year my one plant became a little unruly. It got over 6 feet tall and produced just over 3000 cherry tomatoes. My beefsteak plant was very similar. Got to around 5 feet tall and produced around 90 tomatoes. Is this a normal yield ? I literally did nothing other than build a lattice structure with some bamboo to support the plant.

[@ColePanike]

I've never seen THAT kind of yield from my plants. You're a wizard, Mike.

[@PorchGardeningWithPassion]

Yet another helpful video! I need to prune back my tomatoes to make them ripen as things are rolling into Fall here in Lynden, WA.

[@brnardo6]

TOTALLY HELPFUL! I am on my second year of container tomatoes and did really well with an indeterminate one that got to be 8 ft tall (not joking!) last year, and am on my way to another that big.Your pruning tips will really help - I'm going out there now (mosquitoes be damned!) and do a little cleanup. Unfortunately we are in zone 5B so ... I don't think the suckers will be able to produce much as it's now end of July! Thank you for your videos! :-)

[@krankykrista]

Glad I found this video! I have 4 plants that are indeterminate and growing like nobody’s business. This video helped me out a lot!!

[@WilliamRSport-o9d]

Me too! I worked on a farm from age 9 until 17. I LOVE gardening....and now that I'm retired (forestry logging); I aim to start gardening and then give away the fruits of my labour!

[@careya]

I’m pruning my tomato plants for the first time this year. Excited to see the difference it makes.

[@josephbenson4413]

Thank you! I desperately needed that info. For years I've been cutting off the sun leaves because they always look so manky. Also... just an FYI... not Medusa. Perseus cut her head off and she died. The Hydra is the monster you are thinking of... from the 12 labors of Heracles; cut one head off and two quickly grow to replace it.

[@margaretshields5714]

Manky , ha, 1st time I’ve ever heard it he Word & well used by the way!

[@mikebee888]

Great channel to learn about home gardening. I live in the middle of Sweden and grow tomatoes both outdoors and in a greenhouse. Our tomato season is very short, between June and September. It would be nice to know from all who's write the comments which climate/season your in. It is easier to use your advices then. 👍🙂

[@lauraschneider7332]

Great info! Thanks! Last year my husband didn't want me to prune our tomatoes, and we ended up with a Tomato Jungle. They actually produced wonderfully, but it was so difficult to harvest! The plants were well over 6 feet tall and all tangled in on one another! Now I can show him this video and hopefully help change his mind about pruning.

[@jillelizabethkleist976]

This was so helpful!! Love that you can make additional plants from the pruning, thanks for the tips.

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Elizabeth

[@MolloRelax]

This new info is really helpful....thanks...I have 8 tomato plants that I brought in for the winter, in northern Alberta, and it has provided me with a multitude fruits since...about 2.5 to 3 inch in diameter. It was super nice to be able to pick 4 ripe tomatoes on Christmas morning .Those 8 plants are from another single plant that I also salvaged from frost the winter before that...and from which I saved a few seeds from the fruits that it provided me with . I take care of the dead leaves on a regular basis, and it is still flowering in a steady manner. Luckily for me , my house faces south and there are 4 big windows that lets in the sun for about 5 hours during the winter days. ...Looking forward to save those suckers from now on.

[@dr.samierasadoonalhassani2669]

Recap,prune lower leaves,identify flower bud,then remove sucker below it,with sheer if big or manual, determinate tomatoes.

[@Garden_Reine]

Honestly the best part of this video was finding out I am pronouncing the name of my Genovese Costoluto tomato correctly

[@epicgardening]

Don't be so sure...

[@johnkoval1898]

I’ve been growing tomatoes for 40 years and I say pruning tomato plants is unnecessary. They just need to be caged or tied up on a tall stake. The only other thing they need is bone meal for calcium to prevent blossom end rot.

[@alsaunders7805]

Same here, my tomatoes are monsters this year in lowcountry South Carolina. 🤓🍻🍅

[@divineluna1373]

Me too !! I’m 61 and have been growing tomatoes for many many moons.. lol…and I have to say I have never heard of the expression of determinate and indeterminate tomatoes, perhaps I’m old school but that’s definitely a new one to me..learn something new every day.. lol.

[@wendellwesley4033]

@@divineluna1373 there are a lot of different varieties this year im growing Italian ice, super snow white and romas, they grow so very differently

[@deegir3354]

I never used to prune tomatoes and always had excellent production. Grew between 50-100 plants per year. Maybe its needed (?) but never has been an issue for me. Always tons of tomatoes and healthy plants

[@todd1469]

ok wow this is a real game-changer for me. I always knew about pruning suckers, but nothing I have watched before EXPLAINED WHAT A SUCKER IS! I was just chopping everything off all willy nilly and not understanding the difference. Last year, I mostly just gave up and didn't prune much. Looking forward to applying this!!!

[@lianajacobs2794]

Glad you said that about the trims. I forgot you can do that with some plants. I need to do that to my tomato plants. Also glad to hear about cutting the top when it gets tall enough. Thanks for the tips. Was wondering if you could do that.

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Liana

[@jimpeppyp4946]

I remember my uncle telling me a tomato plant is like a mother and she can only feed so many and that’s why you take out the suckers

[@juliewaughop2664]

It is May 29 ,2022. I too have been doing research all winter , here in Illinois. In March we tilled up a garden space , twice as big as last year. Chopped up unused vegetables scraps ,eggshells, and banana peeling. Saved coffee grounds. Our garden (in town) ,is 9 foot by 30 foot. Right down the center, I made a 2 foot gully. I took 3 - 5gallon buckets and divided my savings and filled up the rest of the way with collected rain water. I took my hoe and slushed it around ,and dipped my pan into the bucket and kept my solution in the center. As spring snuck up on us , I sprinkled rock phosphorus down the center. Winter held on till the end of April, and I had to cover my babies. I planted my tomatoes deep. As they grew ,I pressed more dirt around the bottom of the stem ,and snipped off the lower limbs, like you said. I'm 5'10" , and my tomatoe plants are even with my hips. I sure would like some advice on how to keep those maple tree seeds ,(whorrly bird seeds) , out of my garden. I don't have no trees in my yard !!! Sorry this is so long , but I love to talk gardening , as you do too!!! I visit my garden several times a day. I say my prayers in the mornings. But I face my gardens door now, cause my husband came out , when I was deep in prayer , and scared me like crazy the other day ! Bless you and all that you do for others with your advice. One more advice from me.... Don't tell God about your problems, Tell your problems how strong your God is!!

[@bendorbreak100]

Great presentation! Style, voice strength and clarity, and professional knowledge are "spot-on"!

[@Jennifer33333]

I'm going to try to transplant a sucker I just found into a new pot tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[@harleyfishman9488]

Yeah suck one there

[@manycats9943]

Just found this (in 2022) and want to thank you for a nice, clear explanation of the two types of tomatoes and how to prune. I agree with other posters, you have a very clear way of explaining. Thanks so much!

[@MrKevinStraub]

I will generally twin my indeterminates so there is the main stem and one other. Oftentimes, I will give the plant some time after transplanting it out to just let it do what it will do and I will find it with a natural fork at the top, providing two main stems. I will simply remove all of the suckers and let the two grow out, coming back to prune the suckers every so often. I did some record keeping one year, with some Ultra Girls, to compare yield between a single stemmed and a twinned plant. What I found was that the doubled plants produced just a little over 8% more than singles. One would think that twinning is the way to go, then. However, the fruit on a twinned plant tends to come over a shorter period of time, at the end of the season, while the single plant starts giving ripened fruit two weeks ahead of the twinned plant. So, if you are going to do some canning, twinning the plant is definitely the way to go, but if it is mainly for fresh eating, or fresh plus canning, then a single stem may be a more desirable method of pruning.

[@erinbsullivan444]

I feel like I’m in a gardening class. This is so helpful for newbies like me! Thank you!💕

[@epicgardening]

I'm so glad!

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH6afWyunsqGjs0

[@bobedwards8896]

I skipped ahead than realized I know nothing about plants. started from beginning

[@tdouglas6632]

Yep, what Erin said. Same here.

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Erin

[@freddysart4005]

I put my suckers in water and wait for roots to sprout. Works for me. Been dabbling in hydroponics. Thanks for the video.