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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Instructions for pruning tomato plants
  3. Prune tomatoes in fall and winter
  4. The three most common pruning mistakes
  5. FAQ

    6. From June, when the tomato plants have developed several pairs of leaves, you can start pruning. Leaves close to the ground can be cut off, side shoots removed and the top of the tomato plant cut off.

    the essentials in brief

    • Cuts in height and width as well as regular trimming are an important part of care
    • Cutting effort depends on the cultivated tomato variety
    • Pruning is also necessary in autumn to allow all the fruit to ripen
    • In principle, hibernation is possible, but in most cases it requires a change of location

    Instructions for pruning tomato plants

    Pruning tomato plants is a complex subject that presents some hurdles for gardeners. What you need to pay attention to when shortening the shoots and pinching out unintentionally grown branches and how the requirements of the individual tomato varieties are presented is summarized below for you.

    Cut shoots and limit in height

    The main purpose of pruning the tomato plant is to aerate the crop. On the one hand , too dense vegetation inhibits the development and ripening of the fruit and , on the other hand , promotes possible disease infestation . Fungal spores in particular prefer habitats with high humidity and dense vegetation.

    In addition to limiting the width, it can also make sense to limit the height. If you plant outdoors between mid-May and the beginning of June, you should start cutting at the beginning of August at the latest.

    The tomato is usually cut at the points marked in red. Capping, defoliating and pinching are part of the weekly tomato care tasks.

    However, in order not to hinder the growth of the tomato and its fruits, not all shoots should be shortened. In particular, the lower foliage formed by the plant at the beginning of its growth cycle can be removed from a height of one meter. Removing these up to a height of 25 to 35 centimeters is completely harmless and provides an additional growth spurt for the tomato. In addition, the branches located in this area are particularly susceptible to fungal diseases, which are spread by spray water, among other things.

    In addition, you should shorten the main shoot of the shrub to the desired size when it reaches a size that is no longer manageable. In good conditions, stick tomatoes in particular can reach a height of up to 2 meters within a very short time. In addition, the existing stinging shoots that grow out of the leaf axils should also be removed regularly.
    More information on pinching follows in the next section.

    Cut out tomatoes

    The removal of the stinging shoots growing out of the leaf axils is also referred to as stinging. The sprouts usually only have leaves and no inflorescences and inhibit the formation of buds on other side shoots by removing nutrients. In addition, a large number of stinging shoots lead to an overall reduced growth rate and an increased susceptibility to fungal diseases. Other advantages of pinching are:

    • better ventilation of the remaining shoots
    • increased insolation of fruits
    • reduced space requirement
    • Better stabilization of the plant through a more open growth habit
    • Use of the removed shoots as raw material for fertilizer production

    Caption: Remove stinging shoots

    1. First look for the stingy shoot, 2. Grab the young shoot with your index finger and thumb, 3. Carefully snap off the shoot with your fingernails

    The process of pinching is simple and can be carried out without tools if it is carried out regularly. In practice, a weekly implementation from mid-June has become established in order to keep the maintenance effort within reasonable limits. The existing stinging shoots are grabbed at the point of origin with the thumb and forefinger and carefully removed from the plant with the fingernails. For thicker stinging shoots, you can also use clean pruning shears or a sharp knife, which is also placed as close as possible to the main shoot.

    Pruning and pinching by variety

    The requirements for pruning measures differ for the individual tomato varieties, which is why you should find out about the special features of the species you are growing before you cut back for the first time. Tomatoes can basically be divided into the genera of stick tomatoes, cocktail tomatoes, bush and vine tomatoes and wild tomatoes. Additional information on the individual varieties can be found in the linked article.

    caption: Variety-specific pruning of the tomato plant

    The need for pruning and pinching varies with the tomato variety selected.

    stick tomato. The stick tomato, which mainly grows with a single shoot, requires both regular pruning in height and continuous pinching. In addition, thinning out across the width is recommended to ensure optimal ventilation and lighting of the shoots and fruits.

    cocktail tomato. The cocktail tomato, which is already growing much more bushy, should be pruned evenly in height and width in the same way as the pole tomato. Depending on the variety selected, removing the stinging shoots may not be absolutely necessary.

    Bush tomato and vine tomato. In most cases, bush and vine tomatoes need neither pruning nor pinching. In most cases, this is punished by the plant with reduced growth and poor bud formation. However, since there can also be differences between the individual varieties within the classification, you should find out in advance about the exact care requirements.

    wild tomato. The wild tomatoes, which represent the most original form of growth, should never be pruned or pinched. This subsequently leads to a lack of further growth and a reduction in the crop yield.

    Prune tomatoes in fall and winter

    Pruning measures are also necessary on the tomatoes in autumn and winter in order to be able to benefit from the plant for as long as possible. Especially in the case of hibernation, some instructions must be observed in order to make this successful.

    Cut back in the fall

    In Germany, tomato plants grow until September or, if the weather is good, until October. It is therefore advisable to start pruning the plant no later than mid-September. Removing shoots that have neither flowers nor fruit encourages growth on the remaining branches. In addition, the ventilation and lighting is increased, which contributes to better ripening of the fruit.
    At this point in time, the pinching can also be stopped, since there are usually hardly any new pinching shoots. Especially if the tomato plant is to be overwintered, the stinging shoots should be left on the plant.

    Before the tomato plants are completely removed from the bed, a generous pruning is worthwhile to ensure that the fruit is fully ripe

    Tomatoes overwinter

    In principle, it is also possible to overwinter your tomato plants in this country. However, in order to meet the requirements of the nightshade plant, a few measures must be taken:

    • bright south-facing location, use of a plant lamp (€21.99) for additional lighting if necessary
    • Minimum temperature between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius
    • moderate watering and fertilizing during the winter months
    • no pruning and no cutting

    In addition, not all varieties are suitable for overwintering. In particular, species that can be assigned to the bush and vine tomatoes, as well as non-diseased plants, survive the winter in a suitable place in the heated greenhouse or conservatory without any problems. You can find more tips and information on wintering here.

    The three most common pruning mistakes

    With regard to the pruning of tomato plants, many mistakes still happen in practice, which should be avoided at all costs for healthy growth of the plant and a lush fruit selection.

    Stick tomatoes never cut. Completely skipping the pruning of a stake tomato will result in uncontrolled growth in height and width. In addition, the trained fruits often only have a small diameter, since the main focus of the plant is on the growth of the shoots. It is therefore advisable to continuously cut back the plant at an early stage and regularly pinch it.

    Main shoots of bush tomatoes shortened. In most cases, the shortening of the main shoot of bush tomatoes does not result in the plant growing any further in height and reduced formation of buds and fruits. To avoid this development, bush tomatoes should not be cut back.

    Dirty scissors used. If unclean working materials are used, there is a risk of the tomato plant becoming infected, since the pathogens have direct access to the wound site. The use of a pruning tool is recommended, especially when harvesting beefsteak tomatoes, as they are often overgrown.
    Therefore, make sure that your tools are thoroughly cleaned and regularly disinfected, even if the previously cut plant shows no external symptoms of a disease.

    FAQ

    When are tomato plants pruned?

    When planting out between May and June, the first pruning measures should be carried out at the beginning of August at the latest. With a corresponding increase in height, however, you can also put your hand to it as early as July.

    How are tomatoes cut?

    The extent to which the tomato is trimmed depends on the variety selected. While bush, vine and wild tomatoes do not have to be cut back, stick and cocktail tomatoes need regular thinning. The cutting is then done with pruning shears or a sharp knife, which are attached to the leaf axil.

    Can you shorten tomatoes in height?

    Tomatoes can be shortened both in width and in height. This is highly recommended for easier handling, especially with high-growing stick tomato varieties.

    Can tomato plants be overwintered?

    In principle, overwintering of tomato plants is also possible in this country, whereby the winter quarters must be in a bright and warm place.

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Vegetable garden