How to Top Tomatoes (Why, When, How)

[@danajensen2935]

Now I realize why the tomatoes in my back yard became an actual jungle! That won’t happen next year and I’ll go out there and cut back some of the jungle over the weekend. I have more tomatoes this year than ever before so I’m not lacking in my favorite fruit. I learn SO much from watching your channel - thank you!

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

tomatoes are one of my fav things to grow, we are growing 48 verities! and about 100 plants. we do a lot of canning for later in the year and some dried tomatoes for tomato paste.

[@MikeDawson1]

i caught the same bug with growing different berry varieties! I only have 6 tomato varieties though

[@MBinTN]

Bless you for making this video! I just wish I had come across it weeks ago because my tomato plants have suddenly morphed into a chaotic jungle. They are collapsing under their own weight, and I lack the adequate supplies, not to mention the funds, to brace them properly. I fear I won’t be able to regain control at this point, but I am going to give it my best effort because I can’t bear the thought of losing my beautiful ‘maters. Prayers needed! 🙏🏻

[@JLSteelCrafts]

Right and this is the first time ive seen this specific topic. Well done.

[@royalicing8603]

This exactly what I needed to hear! I'd thought about topping my plants, but it's hard! I think it makes the end of the summer more and more evident...and I'm not ready for that, yet! 😕 But there is a LOT of fruit on those vines that need to hurry up and get going ripening up! So THANK YOU for providing clear and 'good' reasons for going ahead and topping them off! Ready or not, it just makes sense!

[@royalicing8603]

One more thing... I watch tons of gardening videos and I wanted to tell you that of all the 'experts' out there, YOU are the one that I trust to get my solid/accurate advice from! You're the best in my book!

[@GardenerScott]

Thank you very much!

[@sad_but_true64]

Watching you is very relaxing... Takes me back to Mr Rogers neighborhood. You give off that calm feeling. Awesome 😎

[@nikkitronic80]

Thanks Gardner Scott!!! Another perfectly timed video. I need to hear this. My tomatoes have gotten unruly. Now I'm about to go out to the garden and top my tomatoes. ❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️🌱❤️

[@mhawang8204]

Thank you for this video! I also live in a region with short growing seasons, and my tomato plant is outgrowing its cage, causing it to lean. Now I can avoid getting a bunch of green tomatoes and keep the plant in check. 😊

[@gt4654]

I have already started topping my tomatoes 2 weeks ago. I am not expecting any frost for at least 4-5 months, but they reached 2.5 meters high... Because I didn't leave any suckers grow during mature period, I have started to leaving one new low sucker grow.

[@ForgingFreedomTV]

The best video I’ve ever seen on the subject. Thank you. Just shared this with our entire self-reliance group

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks so much!

[@Lizrferguson]

Exactly what I needed! Thank you.

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

Good reminder. I will need to do this on my plants next weekend.

[@heidiclark6612]

Thank You for the great information! This summer has really went by fast. I guess I have some tomato pruning to do.

[@robertshorthill4153]

Scott, I live in So.Central Montana. Our first frost date could come about Labor Day. Hopefully later. I cut off new blossoms and growth tips around the first of August. This year I have plants loaded with fruits that I would like to see ripen before the end of September. That may be about 8 or 10 weeks till frost. I'm not worried I'll cut short new sets as they will never amount to any size anyway. This looks to be a great year for toms here in MT this year. Everybody thinks this hot summer is great for their gardens. Yes sir, topping plants works to help ripen fruits and cutting back a bit on watering seems to work as well. Thanks for the tips, my friend. I've messed with toms for many years and with 10 plants ( and a bit of BER loses to outer fruits ) I should have a good harvest. Bob in Bozeman, MT.

[@tehdewm]

Thank you for the tips!!

[@hugelpook]

Ha ha ha ha. Good one

[@bashaberl1428]

Gardener Scott,, thanks for taking my questions of a few days ago to the next level! Really needed this video now.

[@jimjim2822]

Scot bud, thank you. Great video… relaxes me completely… a joy to watch… I’ll be feeling much more comfortable in pruning my beloved tomatoes. I actually talk to my plants and explain to them that they’re going to be okay after I prune. They look happy 😊

[@paulrobinson4865]

I canned Green Tomato Salsa last year at the end of the season, pretty tasty! Also, placed a lot of them on the window sill and they eventually turned red!

[@RodeoCowgirl-55]

My tomato plants have grown up to 10 feet tall as I been using my ladder to reach top. I guess I will have to top it now. The cold weather be here in 1 or 2 months and I am sad as I am gonna miss my garden till next spring.

[@edlemire5052]

Very useful information. Thank you!

[@ar471]

I single stem most of my tomatoes, but this is still a helpful tip for the end of the season. I cut the growing tip off in mid October to guarantee everything ripens. I may end up with a handful of green tomatoes, but I know just what to do with those.

[@deborahfromdcspetersoncity9213]

Very useful information on the right day for me. Thanks

[@jackiedavenport1530]

What great information. Ty! I’m way down in SE Louisiana, & my vines are reaching 6 feet tall right now - just 5 weeks into growing. They’re in 5 gallon buckets & outgrowing their 6’ tall stakes. On my first plant, I let the suckers grow 6 inches long, cut them off, rooted & planted suckers & already have 12 more beautiful plants, from these suckers. (I think it’s just amazing what we can do with these tomato plants) Thanks so much for the info. Helps me understand the reason for taking the suckers off & topping them. I’ll let them grow a little taller & then top them off. Thanks again.

[@patriciasimmon6854]

Thanks. Think I’m about ready to do this with some of my tomato plants.

[@mz5376]

Thank you for this! I’m growing hydroponic gardens and pots under light. I’m a new gardener, and I couldn’t understand how to get it under control!!!

[@GardenerScott]

When I grew tomatoes hydroponically, pruning was more important to keep the plants under control.

[@lynnchantler96]

Great video, Gardener Scott, and very timely! As always, thank you!

[@sherrymurphy-kleine4592]

Perfect to answer a question I asked myself today!! Thank you, Scott. I love your channel!!

[@patrickwalsh2361]

Another awesome video and it’s nice to see you using the same line of reasoning with your tomato pruning techniques! A couple of years ago I tried the single stem method in a 32” x 8’ bed where I pretty much pruned every sucker (the smaller and earlier the better). But then, later I realized that single stem method is for maximizing space - but I’ve got plenty of space - I need more beds! Now, I’ll be trying 4 - 5 plants (instead of 12) per bed while selectively pruning to form bushy, yet not congested plants. I also like to prune the suckers after a few blossoms (+ a leaf for solar energy) like you. It seems that by doing this, you’re increasing the ratio of blossoms to leaves, which is what single stem method is all about - since the main stem is supposed to have a higher ratio than the suckers! Nice to see you’re using the same logic! Thanks again Scott!

[@michaelmarchione3408]

Well I"m glad you shared that knowledge. Thanks!

[@deecooper1567]

Well, that’s my garden job during this week 😉. Today is Very heavy with smoke so hopefully it’ll clear a bit so I can go out. 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@dougmorissette459]

Thanks for another great video! It is almost the end of August here in BC Canada and my tomato plants are over 8 feet tall in my greenhouse and have been pressing against the inside of the roof. I have so many new fruit sets that are already in the early stage of tomatoes that I was wondering if topping the plants was a good idea. You have convinced me that I should top them to put the energy into the fruit growth instead of vine growth. By following your other videos I am looking at a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. Thanks again.

[@jrobarnett]

Thank you for the tip sir ! awesome info I’m at this stage of my growing

[@Mary-uz2tz]

Thank you. I learn so much from your tips.

[@lar113]

Thank you for the video. I have thought about this and wasn't sure if I was thinking correctly. My first frost date is about 6 weeks from now.

[@biguubtorres7907]

Thank You So Much Value on this channel!

[@feliciaward6589]

Hey Gardener Scott, just subscribed to your channel 😊 I am growing tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupes and honeydews....Indeed all the help I can get!! First timer at this feat. Thank you for all of your tips!! 😉

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel.

[@lesliescully3544]

Super helpful. Thank you.

[@JeanneKinland]

Good information. Thanks Scott.

[@holzmann8443]

It's my first year growing tomatoes and they are totally out of control, now I know how to tame them. Thanks kindly, Gardener Scott!

[@ArtIsLife3]

I'll p

[@master11pizza63]

Would you also top or cut off the growing tips of melons, pumpkins and cucumbers for the same reason ?

[@GardenerScott]

Yes. I also prune off some of the fruit on those plants toward the end of the season to help ripen the big ones that remain.

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

We simply grow the number of plants to produce the number of tomatoes we want~ There is no special upkeep for them at all, aside from putting the tomato cage over each one. Every year in late fall every surface in the kitchen is covered in them anyway, so there is no need to burden ourselves with more steps, it's just that simple~

[@raydowdy6914]

Perfect timing for me. I have 6 plants that just keep growing. So I just topped mine . Also trimmed some of the big li.bs as well.

[@AngryPeasants]

nice info, ty, im sure ill get more out of mine now.

[@hutchhutchins8396]

Very nice article. Thank you, I learned a lot. Do you have videos on other plants in your garden as well?

[@GardenerScott]

I have many, many other videos on my channel.

[@OakleyOlrich]

My family loves fried green tomatoes!😂

[@robertturnbull5472]

very helpful ... thanks

[@Yetundeumeh]

Thank you

[@Ina-hx2zw]

I agree @Royal Icing! Now the question 🙋‍♀️ that arises is…Are the tomato leaves “really” edible? 🧐

[@beverlyberry1102]

Thankyou ☺️🫶🏽❤️

[@conniegraham7416]

Great and helpful video gardener Scott.......Question: once you top of or trim the ends off of the plant....will the tomato plant produce any new flowers? (sorry if I missed this point) Thank you kindly, Connie

[@roboutdoors8680]

Connie. Yes it will. It will actually produce more flowers because you will stop the growth and the plant will focus more on producing more flowers

[@GardenerScott]

Yes, you can expect new flowers and fruit farther down the vine.

[@bsk7125]

Thank you so much. Could you talk about your netting and shade cloths!

[@GardenerScott]

I have discussed them in some of my livestream videos and will do more videos about them.

[@marciasharpe3983]

Yes, first time beginner here. I have been trying to learn about growing cherry tomatoes like sun sugar. They grow to 7ft tall, but I want to grow them in a pot with roughly 4-5ft cage. So I just cut the tops off when it reaches that height, and it will be ok!!!!?

[@GardenerScott]

Yes, you can cut the tops to keep them shorter. They will send out more side shoots and those will need the tips cut too.

[@jimlee5626]

Excelent!!!

[@cindynielson4231]

Thanks for the timely lesson, I will be doing this in the next few days.

[@kansascityonline]

great tips! thanks.. "topping tomato plants" your video comes to top of Google!..

[@ElizabethM824]

Thanks for this. I always wondered when the right time to do this would be. If you still have green tomatoes at the end of the season, I know you can try to ripen them inside. Some people make fried green tomatoes and I would love to try that. How will I know if a green tomato would be good for this? Does it have to be at a certain maturity level or can you harvest any green tomato for this? Thanks again!

[@GardenerScott]

Green tomatoes may change color but they won't get bigger and fully ripen. You'll get better results with fruit that is close to full size and is close to changing color.

[@RodeoCowgirl-55]

Be careful frying those green tomatoes, I do them every year we all love fried green tomatoes. I fried some last week and when I laid some in, cooking oil pop and splash hot oil on my arm burn few spots on my arm. Now they look blisters. BE CAREFULL when you cook those green tomatoes.

[@ElizabethM824]

@@RodeoCowgirl-55 Sorry that happened to you! I hope you feel better soon. I will be careful and thanks for the reminder.

[@RodeoCowgirl-55]

@@ElizabethM824 squash or okra hardly pop but green tomatoes do pop, I guess because of seeds and juices in there to cause pop in hot oil. I guess why tomatoes do that.

[@melnamikiroberts6339]

Hi. I live in Hawaii on Oahu. I don’t have a frost date. Should I be topping my indeterminate tomatoes too or should I just let it grow? Right now i have one plant that is about 7 or 8 ft high and about 10 ft wide on a wire fence. It’s getting a bit unruly but is still giving lots of fruit. Thanks!

[@GardenerScott]

If you have the space and the trellis is big enough, you can allow them to grow until you think it is out of control.

[@user-nr2er2ww3f]

Gardener Scott, help please! In a warm climate where there is never a frost, with an heirloom indeterminate, would topping a tomato plant to limit its height essentially be signaling it to die unnecessarily? Or can a topped stem continue to produce new suckers lower down on the stem? Will a topped indeterminate continue to produce new flowers indefinitely in a warm climate? Also it looks like you are saying you can also “top“ a leaf branch? Basically anything you cut the tip off of stops growing?

[@GardenerScott]

Good question. Topping does not tell the plant to die, but just stops growth in that direction. You will probably see other suckers develop and grow down the stem. Tomato plants can live for years in a warm climate.

[@RandyFelts2121]

Sir do you place your tomato plants in the compost bin after they die from the frost? I've heard that you should discard them.

[@GardenerScott]

Most of the time I do because my tomato plants are free of disease. If you suspect disease or pests in your plants it is best to discard them.

[@Terry-s6q]

I live in Wisconsin and it's been very hot and a lot of rain.My tomatoes are still green should I top my tomatoes plants at this time or wait TY

[@GardenerScott]

You can do it now if you want the remaining fruit to fully ripen, but can probably wait until a little closer to your first frost if you want more tomatoes.

[@Terry-s6q]

@@GardenerScott ok I'll wait

[@Miwako_vklolita]

i have determined tomatoes, does it help them too or do you only recommend this to indeterminate tomatoes? i leave in florida so i don't have to worry a lot about frost. :) thanks for the video

[@roboutdoors8680]

You shouldn't have to worry about determinate plants. They will grow to a certain height and then stop and put all its energy into flowers and fruit.

[@GardenerScott]

Topping is best for indeterminate plants and usually not needed for determinate plants unless you want to limit their size.

[@Miwako_vklolita]

@@GardenerScott thank you

[@Miwako_vklolita]

@@roboutdoors8680 thanks!!

[@johnjude2685]

Believe you taught me this last season and Master Scott it was great got the biggest average of the season and as I was grabbing the few turning fruit as the frost was moving in , Best lesson to learn. Thank you for the teaching Sir

[@gerhardtpienaar]

As usual a good schooling video dammit you are good i will just call you PROFESSOR SCOTT I THANK YOU SIR

[@cdeg1964]

Will this work for cherry and currant tomato plants? I am also wondering if I can do this incrementally, some one week, some another, the rest another, across the plants the same way I planted them?

[@GardenerScott]

It works for any indeterminate tomato. I do it incrementally as the plants grow and as I have time.

[@cdeg1964]

@@GardenerScott Thank you!

[@merissamakesstuff]

Will it still fruit of I top it off at 3 feet? I don't care if it fruits a lot. I just want some fruits, but I don't have space for 6 foot plants. All the things I want to grow in my apartment (hydroponically) are things that grow tall like cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. I don't mind if they only fruit sma smaller amount, though. Thanks!

[@GardenerScott]

It will flower and fruit and send out new growth below the top cut.

[@merissamakesstuff]

@GardenerScott okay. Thanks!

[@donaldl.timberman1610]

Can you top the cherry tomatoes with the same results?

[@GardenerScott]

Sure, if they are an indeterminate variety.

[@mmsdcb9081]

Can I do it to my cherry tomatoes? They are growing like crazy!

[@GardenerScott]

Definitely. That's a good reason to.

[@mmsdcb9081]

@@GardenerScott thank you ! You are so kind to reply.

[@He4vyD]

Hey Scott, I couldn't help but notice your greenhouse skeleton in the background. It looks identical to mine, care to share the brand?

[@GardenerScott]

It is a Planta greenhouse.

[@He4vyD]

@@GardenerScott looks exactly like mine, which I got from Dancovershop. If it has polycarbonate plates, a word of advice: put some wide uv resistant tape over the seam where the top and side panels meet, otherwise it will leak when it rains. I had to find out the hard way 😩

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks for the tip. I had the same problem with a greenhouse years ago.

[@1224chrisng]

It's when one tomato becomes the recieving partner for another tomato wait that's the wrong kind of topping in all seriousness, if frost temperature wasn't a constraint, would you still top it if there's not enough sunlight?

[@GardenerScott]

Possibly. I would let it grow as big as possible, but topping help keeps it the right size for easy harvest.

[@nickfromyuma1691]

Little Top of Horrors

[@AnwarEskaros]

How this tree grow that high

[@karunald]

I don't get it. The Tomato will still continue to put out suckers and if left alone, should produce flowers. I care about managing height only.

[@dima71387]

I think I read somewhere that said 3-4 suckers should be good enough