How to Prune Tomatoes for Maximum Yield and Plant Health

Pruning tomatoes is a topic of much debate - everyone seems to have their own method. This video looks at the two major types of tomatoes - determinate tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes and the differences of pruning each. We also discuss the different parts of a tomato plant so you can look at your plant and actually know what's going on in the mess of stems, leaves, and flowers.

IN THIS VIDEO

SUPPORT EPIC GARDENING

LEARN MORE

The video has a Spanish dub by Unilingo.

DISCLAIMER

[epicgardening]

Any pruning methods you guys use that I didn't talk about? DROP EM BELOWWWW!

[BJayGee]

Back when I was in my 30s, I had several very large Beefsteak tomatoe plants in my garden. It came to the end of the season and temps were dropping, but my plants were FULL of green tomatoes. So I dug them out and tied a rope to the roots and hung my plants upside-down from the rafters in my garage! They continued to grow, ripen and produce fruit for months! I was able to pick tomatoes anytime I wanted to. 😋 Best year ever!!😂

[donaldhodgins]

I've been growing these tasty treats for over 50 years. Hint! Take a two-liter pop bottle and cut off the bottom. Remove the cap and bury the container at a 45-degree angle so the small end is adjacent to the root ball. Add a small rock to the inside of the container to give it some weight. When you want to water your plant just add the water to the open end of the bottle. This saves water and your tomato plants will thank you by bearing a great crop. Don't forget to pinch those suckers. I live in Michigan and I get my plants to reach 14 feet or better. If you want to fertilize just add the nutrients to the bottle and then add the water. I have been using this method for decades and no one can match my yield. Good luck.

[AmoneyC]

It's crazy to me how in depth gardening really can be. I have lots to learn

[ericpierce]

You're a really good teacher, nice speaking style, good voice modulation, very clear explanations. Well done!

[bettywatson]

I once had a tomato plant in a container that the dog knocked it over and broke off a large sucker. The main plant was about 3 feet tall and the sucker was about 2 feet. I planted the sucker in another container as deep as I could. I got more tomatoes from the 2nd plant than I did from the original one.

[susankranz]

THANK YOU!!! I am in east central Wisconsin, my growing season is generally Memorial Day through mid-September. This year I jumped the gun and planted my garden in mid-May, had a close call with cold temperatures one night, but otherwise all is good! Anyway, after years and years of gardening with mediocre results, this year I changed out the whole garden. New raised boxes, fresh growing medium. I started my tomato seeds indoors in early April, planted very cute plantlets. I have never pruned my tomatoes, thinking more plant, more fruit. Every year I had leaf wilt, not too many tomatoes. So after watching your videos, I am being relentless with pruning. Suckers and lower leaves are being removed weekly, and I have the most beautiful tomato crop I have ever grown! The plants are all healthy, fruit is being set and I should be enjoying my first tomatoes in two weeks! No sign of blight or any other disease! I am very thankful.

[brandysims]

Your videos are my FAVORITE! It's such a relief to see someone who can speak well, choose his words well, provide necessary details in an organized way, AND get a lot of info without having to watch for 30 minutes! Thank you for sharing your passion and GIFT with us!

[kenzie]

I decided to grow some romas from seed this season. I planted around 30 seeds, expecting only a few of them to make it but PLOT TWIST 22 OF THEM MADE IT! Everyone in the family got like 5 tomato plants XD

[jen]

This is the best pruning video I've ever seen, after searching all season. Thank you so so much! I'm confident my next tomato plants are going to be 10 times better than this year.

[heidimull]

I just watched your video and went out and pruned my tomato plants for the very first time. I'm a first year gardener and was just letting them run completely wild, but several were not doing so well and when I read up that not pruning could cause bad things, I looked up our video to find out how to do it. Thanks for the helpful info!

[madskihl]

I just love the morning rutine, few silent minutts before kids get up. Look over our plants, water if needed and take away some weeds. Its therapy tbh. Im testing iout different stuff, from raised beds, buckets, trying to make new trees, and now also hydroponics. All for learning. As a family we love to watch it grow and looking forward to start planning next season. Because next year we will have a plan behind it all and start much earlier.
PS forgot to mention, i just love the channel, its what got me started in the first place

[Thingys-Jill]

Love your voice and well-thought-out videos. Here's the saying I live by, "if it's furry, you can bury (the stem)" and that holds for any stem that is furry. Furry stems grow roots. Edited to add that after adding a bit of bone meal and worm castings to the hole, I will also plant tomatoes horizontally up to the first set of leaves for a much stronger root system. Once it's grown, I prune the bottom foot of leaves/stems and underplant. I also always plant basil, onions, petunias, and borage with my tomatoes to ward off hornworms and other pests.

[shaunabryant]

I'm a first time gardener this year and I also live in San Diego!! I knew that tomato plants needed to be pruned and I've watched a few other videos on that but was still confused about what exactly I'm supposed to prune so I've just kind of left my tom plants alone. But I know they need a little bit of pruning now so thanks to you I think I understand so much better than before. I love all of my plants so much and want to take the best care I can for them to really thrive. Thanks for being to the point in your vid and very clear! I appreciate that so much!!

[shayzied]

I've just begun to take growing our own vegetables seriously so I didn't know you need to prune tomatoes at all! This was so informative and made it very clear which suckers to remove from the plants and why. Thanks!

[lovelearn]

While watching your video and pausing at each new instruction, I'm chopping off the unneeded parts of the tomato plants! Thank you for making this such as enjoyable learning experience :)

[Nimbleful]

Hey Kevin, You know, I wasn't even into gardening before I watched one of your videos a couple weeks ago, and after seeing your passion and enthusiasm together with your fantastic clear teaching style - all delivered in your beautiful calm, confident, reassuring energy - you got me hooked and I'm now starting to grow veggies from seed for the first time in my life! Thank you so much for sharing your passion with the world ^_^

[dustinvanhoose]

Hey there, could you please do another tomato video focusing on what the leafs/leaves are trying to tell us for example: turning yellow, curling down or up, getting know like deficiencies or diseases.
I recently just found your channel and really appreciate the content and information and also want to say your videos are extremely therapeutic! Thanks again

[solitarybichcraft]

I watch at least one of your videos a day. I finally started my first little renter friendly garden and I feel confident with the tools you have given us!

[serenitylost]

In light of all the stress of 2020 this video made me very happy. I am in San Diego. Out to the garden I go!!! Peace to anyone who sees my comment.