QUESTION: Is August too late to prune tomatoes

comments (5) August 2nd, 2010

Pin It

beepollen, member

4 users recommend

Photo: Ruth Dobsevage

Add Comment
Print

Is August too late to prune back tomatoes, and how do I do that? I didn't cage them and they went haywire while I was away and are all over the place!

Thanks so much for help.

posted in: tomatoes, pruning

Add Comment Print

QUESTION: Help! Nematodes Are Killing My Beloved Tomatoes

Back to List

QUESTION: Tomatoes not producing

Comments (5)

Dogstardaddy writes: I went away for two weeks, and came back to Jurrasic Park! My plants were literally taller than me, and so thick, I couldn't reach in to get at anything. So I had to seriously dice and slice. Everything seems to have survived.
Posted: 2:03 pm on August 18th

NipomoMG writes: I grow heirloom tomatoes,and have always pruned delicately (suckers mostly). Every year, I ended up with a gigantic mess on my hands. This year I am whacking. My goal is to keep the center of the plant open so light and air get to it. I cut leaves, branches, suckers. Theoretically, I should get fewer tomatoes, but they should be better quality. Unfortunately, we have had an "Arctic" summer in my area. It has been overcast and cool most of the summer. I have very few tomatoes, and I doubt that those will ripen unless the weather changes dramatically.
Posted: 11:18 am on August 17th

rvermar writes: The same thing happened to me -- 2 weeks away and havoc reigns! I am a 'whacker' tho, I cut off even blooming branches. Our growing season is so short here I can't afford to waste the tomato plant's energy on useless foliage. Got rid of every "sucker" and wild branch. I will have plenty of tomatoes if the weather stays hot long enough. Good luck!
Posted: 10:34 am on August 17th

beepollen writes: Thank you Chris - I'll go for it....... that is if I can get over the plants and find the main stem!!! I won't do this again!
Posted: 9:23 pm on August 16th

ChrisMcLaughlin writes: I don't see why not. By pruning them (the branches that aren't producing fruit in the crotch of the main stem and a producing branch) you'll be sending the rest of the plant's energies to the fruit production. Depending on the variety there could still be a lot of production going on in the weeks to come.

I'd do it. But I'm gutsy like that.

Posted: 3:11 pm on August 11th

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.