How Should I Prune My Tomatoes?

Are you growing indeterminate tomatoes, which produce fruit regularly throughout a growing season?

Are there any tomato "suckers," that grow in the "V" space between the main stem and the branches on your tomato plant?

Are there any branches that are low-hanging and touching the ground?

Are there any branches, leaves, or fruits that show signs of sickness (fungal spots and blotches, powdery patches, lesions, etc.)?

You don't need to prune your tomatoes. Because determinate plants develop all of their fruit at one time, pruning may cause you to sacrifice tomato fruits for no reason.

If left unpruned, suckers will grow into full-sized branches which will result in a tomato plant that quickly outgrows its space in the garden. Suckers under two inches long can be pinched off with your fingers. For larger suckers use a pair of clean pruners, disinfecting them as you move from plant to plant to protect against spreading diseases.

Branches that are low-hanging and touching the ground should either be staked up or removed. Leaves touching the ground can be susceptible to bacteria, fungi, and viral infections that can spread through the rest of the plant.

Tomatoes are susceptible to several fungal and bacterial infections, usually during damp and warm weather. Prune off all infected parts of the plant and disinfect pruners between every cut. Spray plants with copper to prevent the spread of fungal diseases.

You don't need to prune your tomatoes. Tomatoes are not one of the plants that require pruning or deadheading to thrive. So if you don't have any issues with your plants, you shouldn't prune them.