Should i prune the lower branches on my tomato plants--

slowpoke73ds · July 8, 2015

There are a few rows of branches on each plant that are producing nothing anf habe no flowers either=== Total greenhorn here

Nematode · July 8, 2015

Personal choice.
I prune below the first cluster, or anything that touches the ground. I feel it helps slow foliage disease from getting an early start.

ricman · July 8, 2015

I also prune anything below the first cluster of tomatoes. This helps with air flow and keeps anything from touching the ground.

Rick

Worth1 · July 8, 2015

You said, "total green horn", so I will take your word for it.
What some people call branches is really a huge compound leaf.
Here is a compound leaf.

At the crotch of the leaf there is what some people call suckers.
This sucker is really a new branch growing.
Along this branch you will see what is called a truss.
This truss is where the tomatoes grow.

So with that said I cut the lower leaves off of the plant as they start to touch the ground.
As the plant grows I will do this up to, 'but not limited to, about 18 inches.

Worth

Mike723 · July 8, 2015

You'll find that the majority of growers here prune the first 3 nodes at the very least.. The purpose is to keep bacteria and fungal spores in the soil from splashing onto the leaves and causing disease.. Good mulching practices will help some as well.. This isn't a cure-all unfortunately, as many pathogens are airborne, but it will certainly hedge your bets.. Give the plants some time, they'll bloom for ya..

Not sure of your temps, but I see you're in florida.. The reason I mention it is because at this time of year you're probably going to have a hard time getting any fruit to set (tomatoes to develop)... When the daytime temp gets over 90 particularly coincided with high humidity, the pollen will get tacky and not fertilize the flowers. You'll probably also notice a bit of blossom drop (flowers shriveling and falling off). As long as you keep tending to the plants they'll set fruit when the weather allows.. Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful (sometimes frustrating) world of tomatoes!

slowpoke73ds · July 8, 2015

Thanks all for responding-- i do need all the help i can get-- this is not my first garden but the only time i actually am trying to know something about my plants-- i plant in pots

Dewayne mater · July 8, 2015

As soon as they are a couple of feet tall, I start removing the lower leaves leaves and branches, primarily for the reasons others have stated. This year I'm doing a lot more pruning than that to try out training to 2-3 stems. The result has been far better disease control than any year and that when the month of May was biblical style flooding and as of today, the rainiest first half (or so) of a year in DFW's 100 plus year history of tracking such things.

That said, it's hot and getting hotter here. I've planted some fall crop tomatoes at this point as heat will end most fruit set over the next couple of months, except for cherries. Other plants I'm trimming up and trying to keep healthy to produce again in the fall. You are likely in a similar phase weather wise. Good luck.

Dewayne Mater

slowpoke73ds · July 8, 2015

thanks again

July 8, 2015	#1
slowpoke73ds Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: lecanto florida Posts: 24	Should i prune the lower branches on my tomato plants-- There are a few rows of branches on each plant that are producing nothing anf habe no flowers either=== Total greenhorn here

July 8, 2015	#2
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	Personal choice. I prune below the first cluster, or anything that touches the ground. I feel it helps slow foliage disease from getting an early start.

July 8, 2015	#3
ricman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ardmore,Oklahoma Posts: 169	I also prune anything below the first cluster of tomatoes. This helps with air flow and keeps anything from touching the ground. Rick

July 8, 2015	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	You said, "total green horn", so I will take your word for it. What some people call branches is really a huge compound leaf. Here is a compound leaf. At the crotch of the leaf there is what some people call suckers. This sucker is really a new branch growing. Along this branch you will see what is called a truss. This truss is where the tomatoes grow. So with that said I cut the lower leaves off of the plant as they start to touch the ground. As the plant grows I will do this up to, 'but not limited to, about 18 inches. Worth

July 8, 2015	#5
Mike723 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: CT Posts: 290	You'll find that the majority of growers here prune the first 3 nodes at the very least.. The purpose is to keep bacteria and fungal spores in the soil from splashing onto the leaves and causing disease.. Good mulching practices will help some as well.. This isn't a cure-all unfortunately, as many pathogens are airborne, but it will certainly hedge your bets.. Give the plants some time, they'll bloom for ya.. Not sure of your temps, but I see you're in florida.. The reason I mention it is because at this time of year you're probably going to have a hard time getting any fruit to set (tomatoes to develop)... When the daytime temp gets over 90 particularly coincided with high humidity, the pollen will get tacky and not fertilize the flowers. You'll probably also notice a bit of blossom drop (flowers shriveling and falling off). As long as you keep tending to the plants they'll set fruit when the weather allows.. Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful (sometimes frustrating) world of tomatoes!

July 8, 2015	#7
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	As soon as they are a couple of feet tall, I start removing the lower leaves leaves and branches, primarily for the reasons others have stated. This year I'm doing a lot more pruning than that to try out training to 2-3 stems. The result has been far better disease control than any year and that when the month of May was biblical style flooding and as of today, the rainiest first half (or so) of a year in DFW's 100 plus year history of tracking such things. That said, it's hot and getting hotter here. I've planted some fall crop tomatoes at this point as heat will end most fruit set over the next couple of months, except for cherries. Other plants I'm trimming up and trying to keep healthy to produce again in the fall. You are likely in a similar phase weather wise. Good luck. Dewayne Mater