How to Prune & TrellisTomato Plants for a BIGGER HARVEST
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- This gardening video will show you how to prune tomato plants the proper way to get more fruit and less leaves. Pruning tomato plants is important if you want the plant to focus on fruit instead of making a huge green plant. You will also learn the best way to use a tomato trellis for your tomatoes to grow on no matter what climate you have.
MENTIONED "HOW TO BUILD THE TRELLIS" VIDEO
• How to Build the WORLD...
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DIGITAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
02:00 - Why you should prune tomato plants
03:11 - How to remove side shoots on tomato plants
04:16 - Tomato flowers vs side shoots
04:58 - Tomato leaf pruning
06:13 - Why you should trelis your tomato plants
06:58 - How to trellis tomato plants
08:26 - How to use tomato hooks (tomahooks) to increase your harvest
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Hey Guys, I’m Brian from Next Level Gardening
Welcome to our online community! A place to be educated, inspired and hopefully entertained at the same time! A place where you can learn to grow your own food and become a better organic gardener. At the same time, a place to grow the beauty around you and stretch that imagination (that sometimes lies dormant, deep inside) through gardening.
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I am from the St. Louis, Missouri area. Have been growing tomatoes for over 50 years and have been listening to you for several years now and have had great harvests every year doing everything you advise. My young grandchildren have a fantastic time in my garden, picking tomatoes and popping them into their mouths. My daughter in law no longer grows tomatoes as the kids just want to come to PaPa's house for their tomatoes.
Those are fantastic memories those kids and PaPa are making!
STL is my hometown!
STL is my home as well! I've had cherry tomatoes grow for months!
Howdy neighbor!
👍🍅🍅
I'm only halfway through and have learned more about growing tomatoes than i have in years! Thank you for being so thorough and showing everything!
Your shows are absolutely the best. I have been using your method: trellis, string, pruning for the last three years and my end result has been three fold better than my previous experiences, mostly because I used to get blight every year. Since I’ve started using the trellis and pruning, my blight issues have been almost non existent. I thank you, and, my husband thanks you. I think I’m much easier to live with when my tomatoes do well. Ha, ha.
I was growing a cherry tomato for three years. It did not stop producing sweet tomatoes all the time. North San Diego County.
Thank you for this! I have wanted to do the string thing for a few years, but was confused by what to do with the vine at the bottom as we lower the string. I even bought the clips through your site last year, but didn't use them because I was so unsure of the method. When I watched your video about moving the clip forward each time, I could envision myself goofing it up and ending up with a worse mess than just trying to manage with very tall tomato cages like I always have. I'm nearly 80 and it takes me longer to grasp some things than it used to.
NOW I can see how to do it and what to expect. I'm heading out to the back yard right now to set up the trellis and get going.
I'm from Michigan and I've been wanting to build your tomato trellis for over a year now! I was able to get it done this spring and planted my tomatoes! I can't wait to see how they do!
For those of us in really hot climates, a shade cloth is essential.
Yes, it truly is vital to have the shade cloth where I live as well. Also, very high humidity percentage.
Shade cloth is definitely key to keep your plants alive here in Texas
I'm from Romania 😊 I've been watching your videos for a while now. I recommend that when you pinch the tomatoes, it's better if you cut them and leave a little bit of the sucker's stem. This way it's less likely that they will regrow in the same place again ☺️
Virginia 7a - pruning is mandatory with our hot, humid & wet weather. I’m finding my garden does better with disease resistant hybrids. By August I’m pulling heirlooms out but the hybrids go until October.
Excellent advice! Been growing in a hi tunnel for years. 300 plants yielding 10-11,000 lbs a year, part time. Plant them deep at 45° angle onto tomato hooks so they can sweep up from the ground. They average about 16 feet long at seasons end. Some china clay mixed into some water and sprayed on to the entire plant to prevent summer scald. Sunscreen for tomatoes! Cheers
I am from St. Hedwig, Tx. This will be the first time that I will plant a garden. I have almost 2 acres of land. Hope my dogs don't mess with the plants. Thank you for all of your videso. God bless you and your family.
US in very hot North Georgia. I am going to try this this year. After it gets really hot, mine stop bearing. Sometimes they will pick back up in fall until our first freeze in November. I also put up a 16 X 25 foot high tunnel green house with 50% shade cloth. I have some growing in there this year too. We will see what does the best.
I'm in a similar zone North of Savannah. Think about some white clay mixed into some water as a spray. Seems to act like a sunscreen. We do 30 x 96 hi tunnel and yield over 10,000 lbs a year. Cheers
I'm a 1st time gardener in zone 10a California. Thank you for the tips!
I'm from east-central Alberta, Canada and our zone is 2a to 2b. I prune and trellis. I'm hoping you are still selling your tomato hooks and PLEASE, start shipping to Canada. You have a lot of fans up here. Love watching your videos, learned so much, thank you.
I am in Southern Ontario, Canada. I stopped growing determinate tomatoes. They take too much room in my small garden. This year, I have raised seedlings from seeds for indeterminate tomatoes: cocktail-sized tomatoes, grape tomatoes and heirloom Chocolate Cherry (I have been saving the seeds each year, for many years). I used to use a nylon netting as trellis, but the wild rabbits chewed through it in a few places. Any kind of cotton or nylon string gets destroyed by the Robbins. They rip it to strands and use them as a nest building material. Now I have a metal grid trellis, similar to cattle panel. But since cattle panel is unavailable in Canada, I use the stuff that is used for reinforcing concrete. It rusts, but it will probably outlast me. And yes, I prune my tomatoes plants to keep them to 1 - 2 leads. I love my indeterminate tomatoes because they produce tomatoes gradually, as the plant grows, which means I can pick them every 2 days for about 6 weeks and eat them fresh. Just before the first frost, I pick all full-sized green tomatoes and let them ripen in my kitchen at room temperature. We enjoy them until Christmas.
I have been doing the same but use bale twine from peavey mart that lasts 5 years or more. Birds and squirrels never bother the twine.
Till Christmas!? 👌 wow! I will have to try that. How do you store them after frost to help them last?
@@janaeshaffer266 Over the years, I have saved a few of the clear plastic tubs from mixed greens, plus the clear boxes from Ferrero chocolates. Through the clear plastic bottom, I am able to check on the condition of the tomatoes from the top as well as from the bottom and pick out any that don't look good before they affect their neighbors. I keep the short tomato stems attached to prevent the tomatoes from cracking. I keep them in 1 - 2 layers. The tubs are pretty deep, so I stack them in crisscross fashion. This way, they have a smaller foot print than if I had them sitting beside each other and they still allow plenty of air circulation. I keep them on the kitchen table and also in the living room, on glass shelving, next to a large sunny window.
@JS-jl1yj So appreciate you getting back to me, and so quickly! Thank youuu! 😊
That is a brilliant idea to reuse the clear containers. I'm not familiar with the other so I'll look it up.
Certainly going to have to give it a go. I am grateful for the specifics. I can't imagine being able to feed my family tomatoes of our own until Christmas, Many Blessings again thank you so much!
@@janaeshaffer266 You are very welcome. I hope it will work for you as it does for me. As I mentioned earlier, I grow only the indeterminate tomatoes. Mostly cherry or grape size. I haven't had much luck with the larger determinate tomatoes. The squirrels and other animals believed that I planted those for them to enjoy. LOL. The cherry tomatoes fruiting on a tall vine are a bit more tricky for them to reach and eat.
Prince Edward Island! Haven't gardened in years and trying to do it right this time. Growing tomatoes in raised beds. Wish me luck!
I’m in New Brunswick. Putting my tomatoes in my raised beds tomorrow or Wednesday. Wish us both luck!
@@darleneprice6467 Mine went in yesterday! Still alive today!!! Good luck to you!
NE Washington State. I prune mine. I never used to, but after watching your highly popular video about tomatoes, I started pruning, and was rewarded with the best crop I've ever grown. So thanks!
Zone 8a Timpson, Texas. This is my second year using your trellis and hooks. I have San Marzano's in the bed this year.
Những chia sẻ kinh nghiệm làm vườn của bạn rất hữu ích với mọi người ,thanks bạn đã chia sẻ video hay 🌱👍.
I am in Vancouver, British Columbia. I have been growing tomatoes for 20 years. I have always pruned. Last year was my best tomato producing year. Was also a very dry hot summer.
I woke up this morning and went out to check my tomatoes and peas, and found a ton of mushrooms growing in a couple of my planters. Would it be possible for you to do a show about this and offer advice if they're not good for my tomatoe plants? I have been watching you for a yr or so and you have given me a lot of good advice and I enjoy watching your show, so I trust any input you may have
Good afternoon, if i only had a yard! Have a wonderful weekend all of you!
Container garden!
I do do that on a very small scale! I am not that great of a gardener but have been looking at different containers for my balcony. Thank you so much for your advice. It truly gave me the boost to do some more of it!
Hi im from SA and just started pruning. Love your videos👍
Great video! I live in SoCal, up in the mountains. We have crazy weather patterns here and I don’t think we fit into any one zone. 😂 These videos are so helpful, thank you!
Hi Brian, I am from costal Oregon zone 9b…I have tried pruning my tomatoes for the first time last summer trellising them on my chain link fence.
How did they do? Did they burn? I’m 9a in the Greater Phoenix Area and I’m scared to try the single stem.
No they did not burn at all the fruits did just fine they had enough leaves covering them that they were protected from sun scald.
I garden on the line between zone 2 & 3. Once it warms up you have NO time to lose. I have a green house and I love to garden. I watch your videos. They are fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Holy crap! I didn't know people gardened at the North Pole! 🥶😆
I grew up in San Marcos, CA where you are, but I live in southern Oregon. I plan to use your advice to prune my tomatoes.
Great tips Brian, thanks for sharing! I’m in Tennessee, zone 7ish. Most of my tomatoes are cherry, and I do prune those, but only the interior leaves. My containers are fairly close to each other, so thinning out the middle helps air circulation.
This string method is awesome. I hang my strings from bamboo poles across the top of a pole frame that surrounds my container garden. Eight foot poles at each corner, eight foot poles across the top front and back, bamboo poles laid across those. Everything zip tied together and, with the rabbit fencing I use for trellising at each end, make a fairly strong structure.
Watching from Michigan and just starting
Hey, brother! I thank you for all of the info you've provided! This season, I've been following your channel like The Apostle Paul! Perhaps I missed it, but my cuttings have rooted in water in about 5 days! What I would have tossed or composted has turned into more tomato plants in containers for a longer harvest season. Thanks again and if you haven't shared this technique, please do a short video on this for our friends.
Toronto, Ontario... Indeterminant San Marzzanos
@NextLevelGardening I also trellis and prune using your technique. In my trellis I ran rebar as a rod instead of screw eyes . This make it easier to hook, let out string and slightly move when adjusting for the growth. It also tidies things up a bit.
I'm across the pond from you in Stoney Creek area. I'm growing Redata San Marzano for the first time this year. There's only so many slicers a gal can eat or give away. Time for sauce 😂
I’m from Tennessee been growing for years I do remove suckers as we call them I usually have a great crop but I’m learning some new tricks thanks for the info
Healdsburg CA. You taught me to trellis tomatoes.
I live in the outer metro Atlanta, GA area and had never heard of tomatoes being determinate vs indeterminate, much less about pruning tomatoes, until last year. We did okay with our first harvest of all indeterminate/cherry crop before the fall hornworms completely devoured everything. This year we are doing things a little differently, and I'm excited to see the differences as I've added determinate tomatoes (and the weird oddball, tomatillos) to this year's repertoire. As I remember back to growing up in Colombia with wild tomatoes growing throughout the junglescape, many of the "hacks" I'm hearing parallel how those tomatoes grew. Can't wait to start canning my own pasta sauce and salsa!
Niagara Falls, Canada and yes I prune
Thanks for the great video Brian. I am 7B, Atlanta, GA and used your methods for the pst two years with outstanding success, usually indeterminate tomatoes until December last season. I prefer the classic variety but all seem to flourish. But every year is different so we have to be diligent! At 89 years I use an electric wheelchair to move around!
On the gulf coast of Texas. I prune my tomato plants at least weekly this time of the year when they are growing so fast. My cherry tomato plants are about 7 feet tall and loaded with tomatoes. I'm going to have to start lowering the string soon.
I live and garden on Vancouver Island west coast Canada. Yes, you are my go-to guy! After watching your video about trellising tomatoes I had my husband build a structure for me that accommodates two rows of tomatoes. I just now finished putting up the tomatoes because it's been rainy here. Thanks for all you do!
Hi Brian 😊 .. I'm in South Central Washington State....yes I prune my indeterminate tomatoes.... haven't had a great harvest,but then again it's just my husband and I...we share with relatives and neighbors! Love your page!
I'm from central Arkansas and have followed you for a few years. Hubby built the trellis for tomatoes and even a few of our zucchini this year. Our garden is BOOMING with the rain and humidity!
Growing all determinate in 8b/9a Texas.
Next year I will have the room to get some indeterminate in the garden.
Great video!
In Texas, I don't grow many indeterminate ones, too hot. Sunscald is a problem here
I’m in Texas. My garden is on the east side of my house so the plants don’t get hot afternoon sun. They lasted until November 😮
I live in Walnut Creek, ca. I prune tomatoes based on your recommendation. I only grow early tomatoes.
I live in Florida, After watching your channel I started growing tomatoes again and I am pruning my tomatoes. and thank you so much.
Vero Beach Florida
NorCal Bay Area 😊 And yes I prune my tomatoes and am hoping to try your trellis to see if there is a difference. Thank you for the awesome videos! 😊
I have been using your trellising method for 4 years now and it is great. I'm getting the hooks for the first time because this video really simplified and explained them really well. Thx, you are amazing
I'm in Oklahoma and grow indeterminates for fresh eating (I love the flavor of so many heirloom varieties) and grow determinates for volume for preserving. I used to have giant cages to contain indeterminates with a little pruning for air flow. A couple years ago I tried string trellising them and pruning to 1-2 main vines and will likely always do that from now on. Even though I have a long growing season, I have a short tomato season since tomatoes won't produce in the 90s and 100s we have from July to September. I find with string trellising I can plant way more indeterminates in the same space and get way more production before the heat shuts down pollination. Plus I don't have so many large tomato cages to store anymore, I just keep a few for cherry tomatoes.
Nothing like a fresh warm tomato from the garden!
Thank you for all the excellent knowledge
SoCal. I grow both types. Every year I try something new in my garden. This video will help. Great video Brian. Keep up the magic of growing things....
I’m from SE Pa - I love the single string pruning I struggle with pests and air flow helps so much. Thanks for the tip about cherry tomatoes
hot hot TX! Our tomato season is over July 1 but we can start over Aug 1 if we have some ready to go plants. I prune like you describe in your video but not using the hooks - still on string and clips. I can see the benefit of hooks and I have 31 in high beds so already I need a ladder....
Pruning tomatoes, picking off lower stems, I did not know that. I will be doing this year tho. Thanks for all you instructions.
😃🎉 Greetings from California
I do prune my indeterminate tomatoes and string trellis them.. 🙏 Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge
I'm from Four Lakes Washington and this year I am growing mostly Roma tomatoes. I love San Marzono and Amish paste, but this year I'm experimenting with Ferdele and Sheboygan as well. Yes, I prune mine, but usually only up to 6-8 inches.
Love grassroot bags and will plant cucumbers
Grew tons of tomatoes while in Kentucky but no luck in Colorado. Tried everything.
I am pruning this year. I live in Southern Arizona
I'm in Illinois and have done as you suggested for 3 years now. It has worked great! I struggle with pruning(as you said). I'm getting better, but my biggest problem is the weight of my plants. I have been breaking the string.
I've been growing a vegetable garden for 30 plus years. Every year I try something new. 3 years ago I got some Maskotka tomato seeds from Cozy Crib. This breed is so crazy I rank it #1 in all my years of growing tomatoes. I learned every sucker growth point is actually a tomato set. Last year I got 140 tomatoes off of one plant. I am growing two this year for myself but had 10 seedlings that I gave to friends. For your viewers interested google the variety. Thanks for another great video!
NE New Mexico going to try pruning this year.
I live in Smithfield, KY (about 20 miles northeast of Louisville) - Zone 6B (-5 to 0). I built a more expensive version of your trellis system and I purchased your hooks... (l used larger sized lumber - vertical 4"x 4" with a pair of horizontal 2"x 8" and then 2" x 6" horizontal crosspieces every 18" ). I also used my scroll saw to cut the ends of the horizontal 2' x 8" boards past the 4" x4" uprights and the 2" x 6" crosspieces making them very ornamental in appearance). I've been growing my tomatoes on this trellis system using the same pruning techniques as you with great success for the past three years. Thanks
Very conceive video for anyone who may be hesitant. Thankful and blessed by your video Brian.
This is much neater. I'm so interested to do this.
I'm in eastern North Carolina south east of Raleigh. I do prune them and string them as you have suggested.
SE Texas and I usually only prune if a part is in my way or I cut suckers to root more.
I'm finding the tomatoes ( I have determinate and indeterminate) in buckets are outgrowing the ones in the ground right beside the bucket.
Same for peppers. Buckets are better growth than in the ground.
I did try the double pepper method this year. So far so good!
Connecticut, yes some pruning especially for airflow
Orange County zone 10B. Currently growing Early Girls, Lemon Boys, Cherokee Purple, Box Car Willie, (indeterminants) with a lavender plant, and one Oregon Spring determinant bush. Also strawberries, and jalapeños, in an adjacent raised bed. All raised beds. Just erected my tomato trellis this past week using conduits. I used your method last season, but purchased the wrong wood, so it didn't last til this season. OH!!! And WATERMELON RADISHES!!!! Can't wait!
I live in North Georgia and I prune my tomatoes taught by the very best lol you. Thank you for teaching us how to do so many things.
Hey, and greetings from Germany 🍀
Amen! I am now in PA, zone 7 around Hershey. I want to start growing tomatoes again in this area, not sure if it is the same weather as Williamsburg, VA, we’ll see. Any recommendations are much appreciated!! 😊
High I’m from Corona Ca zone 9b and yes I prune them
We live in Denver and grow two cherry tomato plants and one Early Girl plant each year. I have never pruned my tomato plants before. I will try pruning the Early Girl plant this year to see if I get more fruit.
I'm in Lakewood, Colorado - Zone 6. We are building the tomato trellis this year! Can't wait to try it out! ❤
From North Pole, Alaska! 🎉🎉 I always prune my indeterminate tomatoes, and prune the determinates in August to promote larger tomatoes before our first frost in September.
NE Ohio. Yes, I prune, thanks to your videos. Last year was my first full year of gardening.
Glendora California. Yes I prune my tomatoes
Watching from Descanso Ca. I'm in a camping resort, so plant among the plants and flowers. Great way to companion plant too.
I’m right down the highway in Clairemont not too far from you. I’ve had to relearn a lot because of a year round growing season. I appreciate all that you do to help.
I am in southern NM. Anxious to learn!
I'm from Oklahoma and have been watching you for several years. You have good information. Our tomatoes have a rot on the bottom of the tomatoes. It's frustrating.
Yes I prune my tomatoes. I am from IL
I’m in Alabama. It’s always hot and humid, starting no later than May 1st. We’re already in the mid 80s. I usually do some pruning on my tomatoes. But I’m going to prune a lot more this year! Thanks for the great info!
Long Beach, Ca. Yes I prune
Watching from Texas. I prune my tomatoes. Growing tomatoes for containers. Have had success growing them through the summer.
Zone 7b, Maryland. I'll be pruning for the 1st time this year
I believe my zone is 7b and an altitude of nearly 4700 feet. I have never pruned my tomatoes before but I might give it a try this year. I have Stellar growing this year which is a determinate variety.
Southern California zone ten. I enjoy your videos.
Arizona low desert. I can’t do the single stem process. I need leaves to protect the plant from the summer sun. I do thin the leaves and side shoots, just not as many.
Couple of things, Brian. I clicked off yesterday's video before I thought of this. When building your trellis, try using a couple of "quick clamps". They're only a couple of bucks at wally world or Harbor Freight and it's like having an extra hand.
Next. I am so excited about this year. After watching you and following your advice I am impressed by my garden so far. Still early here, (N. NV), but things are coming up, sprouting, growing, and just doing much better than I've done before!! Experienced gardeners might scoff at my enthusiasm, but for me, O M G!! Thank you so much!
No scoffing here. I've been gardening a long time and I still love seeing the new sprouts.
Hubby gets tired of hearing about EVERY plant that has sprouted, gotten true leaves and flowered since yesterday 😂
Cheers from Fort Smith, AR
Oh my I envy those of you that can use this method! I live in western Kansas, one of the windiest places on the planet. I can’t imagine growing tomatoes on string. Out here we make five foot tall cattle panel tomato cages and stake them with iron t posts! On the upside though, it’s dry and air circulation is definitely not a problem so fungal diseases are almost nonexistent.
I live in Sacramento CA, and do not prune tomatoes. There is a good chance the valley heat will scorch tomatoes in the summer, so I leave the leaves on. I will prune up the older branches that touch the ground, to lift the branches up for air circulation.And our humidity is almost non-existent.
Good morning friends at Next Level! I'm Guelph Ontario Canada, I do prune my tomatoes to a single central leader.
From Ga this year growing just cherry sized to get a good harvest but I def need to learn this for future
Central Florida
South Carolina here
I plant both
I am in the high desert of Southern Utah, which they just re-zoned as Zone 6. It's more like Zone 5. I usually start out pruning my tomatoes and then give upon the endeavor after a few weeks. I'll try to do better this year.
Fantastic tips!
NW Louisiana, not only do I Prune, I also have to shade them in the afternoon.