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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

As you begin pruning and making decisions early in the season about which suckers to leave on a plant consider this. The first and only sucker allowed to grow should be the one directly below the very first fruit cluster on the main vine. This sucker should grow to become your second main vine. Any other suckers should be removed after forming one or two leaves. These "extra" leaves will collect sunlight and produce carbohydrates for tomato growth and will at the same time protect the vines and tomatoes from sunburn. (I promised ten tips but I am beginning to run out.) Marv

3/5/2011 9:28:29 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

So, combining tip 1 and Tip 6...prune awl suckers below 24" and above 36" until you set a megabloom in that 24 to 36" range, then allow only the one just below that megabloom, to continue to grow? Curious, how big will the suckers be in the 24-36 inch range, before you know if you have a megabloom? or how long after plant reaches 24" do the blooms show up? Peace, Wayne

3/5/2011 11:38:16 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Wayne, the idea behind the second vine is to give the plant an opportunity to produce additional megablossoms. And also to help shade the tomatoes you are growing, protection from sunburn. Whichever of the two vines has the largest tomato on it is allowed to grow while the other of the two vines, the original and the sucker, which did not come through for you is pruned at 4 feet. So the vine with the tomato continues to grow and the one without is deadheaded at 4 feet.

Also, I did not say to prune all suckers below 24 inches, I said to allow your second vine to be the one below the first blossom cluster. Where this second vine would come off depends on where the first fruit cluster appears.

You are ultimately only going to allow one sucker to grow. The one below the first fruit cluster. The rest get pruned off. This leaves you with the two vines, the original and the sucker mentioned above. Of those two, the one without a tomato is deadheaded at 4 feet. Marv

3/6/2011 9:38:39 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thanks Marv, you said you were startin to run out of Tips, so I thought I would try & keep you busy!! LOL Thanks again for doin awl you do!!!!!!! Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

3/6/2011 3:16:57 PM