Rob writes: How do I prune tomato plants?
Phil The Gardener’s reply:
1. If your tomato plants are growing too large for their allocated area you can prune them with sharp, clean shears.
2. To encourage your tomato plants to grow bushy and full you should pinch the branch tips all during the growing season. Remove the last set of two leaves, including the stem, each time you pinch a branch.
3. Cut out entire branches that are not blooming to keep plants contained. Leave some foliage above developing fruit to shade it and prevent sun scald.
4. Remove dead or fading foliage from tomato plants. Keep only the growth that is green and healthy. Try not to cut away branches that are flowering.
5. Train your tomatoes to grow on a trellis. This will save precious garden space. Growing vertically also makes it easier to locate and harvest the crop. Tie stray branches back to the trellis, or remove them completely if they are not bearing flowers.
Happy Gardening
http://www.philthegardener.com
