From

Location

Message

Date Posted

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

For the last few years I have been allowing my plant to develop a main stem and a secondary stem which essentially gave me two mains. Anything that grew on these tywo mains were pruned after developing one leaf. This meant that on the two stems I allowed to grow I got maybe three or four cluster and so at most, about 6 to 8 clusters per plant and so that many chances for a big one. Now, I am thinking that was not too bright. I am now allowing the branches to grow off my two main vines until they at least begin to form blossoms. This markedly increases my chances for a big one on each plant. If I get a big one on any of my now multiple clusters, many more than I was getting before, I plan on then pruning the plant back to allow all the energy to go into the one hopefully big tomato.If I get no big blossom, I will at least be eating more tomatoes. Am I the only one who has not been doing this? Some of the plants are going to be a lot taller but if I have 50 days or so for the tomato to grow, who knows what I end up with? Any comments or advise? By the way, if you support your tomatoes with twine and tomato clips this gets easier. Dan Sutherland converted me to the clips which are available at Johnny's Seeds.

7/18/2020 2:33:25 PM

Grittyville, WA

I am doing mine in a similar way. I have only had one blossom that might have been 6+ lbs but lost it. I tied most of mine up but a couple are sprawling on the ground and I actually prefer this. I have around ten plants.

7/18/2020 2:54:27 PM

Grittyville, WA

I think that method is worth a try. Whats you watering/ fertilizing method... curious.

7/18/2020 2:56:42 PM

Grittyville, WA

When u prune back, leave the outward growing leaves... the ones that are most of the way developed...? It ends up being a nice sized plant.

I also like to leave the leaves that will help shade the tomato.

7/18/2020 3:02:18 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I use a water meter and water whenever the soil is less than 5. I grow organically and so use very little fertilizer during the season other than some foliar feed. But lets keep the thread on topic please. This is about pruning.

7/18/2020 3:26:48 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

I don’t prune anything until I get the tomato I want. Correction, I do cut the tertiaries. Over the early summer I shop around on the main and secondaries for the big flower. Occasionally, I get a huge blossom on the secondary. I will cut the tips of all the other secondaries and main. This lets the newer leaves develop and puts all energy into the tomato. This is how I grew the 6.66 last year. Currently I have two large ribbon vine flowers developing (Big Wixom, and 9.65). I have been slowly pinching back tips even now to put more energy into the flower.

7/18/2020 11:34:55 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

Another source for a growing point is an early truss.
I currently have a stalk from a first truss that has another truss with a nice mega.

7/20/2020 5:51:09 PM