Pruning tomato plants is an optional technique that some gardeners use to keep plants tidy, manipulate fruit size, and even speed ripening. There is one big catch: You should only prune indeterminate varieties, which produce new leaves and flowers continuously through the growing season. Here are some reasons to prune.
Do you like to train your plants and check up on them almost every day? If so, then you may be a natural tomato pruner. Pruning tomato plants is an optional technique that some gardeners use to keep plants tidy, manipulate fruit size, and even speed ripening. There is one big catch: You should only prune indeterminate varieties, which produce new leaves and flowers continuously through the growing season. If you prune determinate varieties, you may reduce the harvest. (Looking for indeterminate varieties to plant? Try our Tomato Chooser.) Here are some reasons to prune tomatoes.
As a tomato grower, you may be wondering if you should pinch off the flowers that form on your tomato plants. This seems counterintuitive – after all, don’t the flowers turn into tomatoes? Why would you want to remove them?
The reasons for pinching off tomato flowers depend on the stage of growth your plant is in. While producing fruit is the ultimate goal, sometimes limiting flowers early on can help the plant establish a healthy structure first.
In this article, we’ll look at when and why you might want to pinch or prune tomato flowers, along with tips for how to do it properly.
Why Pinch Tomato Flowers?
There are a few key reasons you may want to consider removing tomato flowers:
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To encourage more leaf growth when plants are still young
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To postpone fruiting until plants are more established.
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To redirect energy into developing roots and stems rather than fruits.
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To potentially achieve larger, healthier plants and heavier tomatoes.
Let’s explore these reasons further.
Promote Foliage Growth
When tomato plants are still young seedlings, whether started indoors or outdoors, pinching flowers can redirect their energy and hormones towards producing more stems and leaves rather than setting fruit right away.
This leafy growth is important for photosynthesis to feed the plant. More foliage means more energy production for future fruits to grow. It also leads to bushier, sturdier plants.
So if your seedlings are flowering but still small, pinch away!
Delay Fruiting
It’s tempting to let those first cute tomato flowers develop into an early harvest. However, allowing tiny seedlings or transplants to bear fruit too soon can stunt their growth.
The plant puts energy into the fruit rather than its own development. This leads to smaller yields overall.
It’s better to pinch off flowers until the plant is more mature. Wait until it has reached its final growing space and has established for 1-2 weeks after transplanting outside.
Build Strong Roots and Stems
Along with more leaves, pinching back flowers also encourages stronger roots and stems. This provides a sturdy base to support heavier yields down the road.
Again, when plants are young, it’s best to direct energy underground and into structural growth rather than fruiting. Pinching flowers achieves this.
Potentially Bigger Plants and Fruits
Some research has shown pinching away flowers can result in slightly larger plants and heavier tomatoes later on. The impact varies by conditions and tomato variety, but it’s worth trying as an experiment!
In one study, removing 2/3 of flowers increased plant size and individual tomato weight compared to unpinched plants. Your mileage may vary, but it’s possible pinching leads to bigger and better.
When to Pinch Tomato Flowers
Timing is everything when it comes to pinching tomato blooms. Here are guidelines for the optimal windows:
When Plants Are Young
As mentioned above, it’s best to pinch flowers when plants are still young seedlings or shortly after transplanting. This could mean:
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Pinching indoor-started transplants that flower early while still in pots.
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Pinching newly transplanted tomatoes outdoors for 1-2 weeks until established.
The goal is to postpone fruiting until the plant is more mature and sturdy.
Stop Pinched By This Age
You should stop pinching tomato flowers once plants reach the following ages:
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6-8 weeks old for indoor seedlings.
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1-2 weeks after transplanting outside.
At these points, the plants should be established enough to support fruiting. Allow flowers to develop into tomatoes from then on.
Determinate vs. Indeterminate Types
It’s fine to pinch flowers on either determinate or indeterminate tomatoes when young.
However, determinate types will eventually stop growing and produce all their fruit at once. At maturity, allow them to flower freely.
Indeterminates continue growing and fruiting all season. You can pinch their first flowers for a short period early on but then also let them bloom unhindered.
How to Pinch Tomato Flowers
When the timing is right, here are some tips for pinching your tomato plants’ flowers:
Use Your Fingers
The easiest way to pinch off tomato flowers is with your fingers! Gently pluck the bloom right where it meets the stem.
Remove Entire Flower Trusses
Rather than taking flowers individually, pinch off the entire truss (cluster) for efficient removal.
Aim to get them before the buds open into full blooms. This ensures the least energy wasted.
Use Tools for Small Flowers
Tweezers help remove tiny, new flower buds. But fingers work fine for larger blossoms.
Check Often
Monitor young plants frequently for new flower growth. It’s easier to pinch flowers when they are just forming rather than letting them get larger.
Aim to pinch blooms every few days while plants are still establishing. This ensures you catch all new growth.
Don’t Overdo It
As a guideline, don’t remove more than 2/3 of flowers. Some can be left for fruit production. Find a balance right for your plants.
Troubleshooting: Flowers Falling Off
Sometimes tomato flowers fall off on their own, without you pinching them! This is usually a sign of stress from one of these factors:
- Extreme temperatures – too hot or cold
- Over or under-watering
- Too much nitrogen fertilizer
- Disease or pests attacking plants
Check your growing conditions and the plant’s health if its flowers are dropping. Address any issues to get your tomato crop back on track!
The Takeaway
Should you pinch tomato flowers? Here are the key takeaways:
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It’s generally recommended when plants are young and establishing.
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The goal is to promote foliage growth and delay fruiting at first.
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Stop pinching once plants mature, usually 1-2 weeks after transplanting.
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Both determinate and indeterminate tomatoes can benefit initially.
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Gently pluck off entire flower trusses to direct energy elsewhere.
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Troubleshoot if flowers fall off on their own later in life.
So consider pinching your tomato plants, especially when they are just getting started! It takes some patience initially but can pay off with healthier, more productive plants down the road. Just don’t overdo it, and stop pinching once they establish. Happy growing!
Learn more about how to get started!
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Improved airflow and less disease
With fewer leaves, pruned plants are less dense, allowing more air to move through the plants. The leaves dry faster after a rain, so they are less susceptible to the diseases that need prolonged moisture to develop — something that can be very helpful in wet climates. Plus, fewer leaves make it easier to spot insect pests that might otherwise be hidden by a thick canopy.
Pruning at the right time directs energy toward creating and ripening fruit instead of making more leaves. Overall, you will probably have fewer fruit on a pruned plant, but it will be bigger. And, since pruned plants can be put a bit closer together in the ground because the growth is so vertical, youll have room for additional plants to make up the difference in harvest numbers.
When a plants leaves and physiology have fewer fruit to take care of, that fruit ripens faster. This can really help in short season climates, where getting a tomato harvest is often a race against time, thanks to early fall frosts.
Prune ALL Of Your Tomato Plants Like This RIGHT NOW!
FAQ
When should I pinch my tomato flowers?
Pinch Off the First Set of Blossoms When you first transplant your tomatoes into the ground (within the first week or so), pinch off any blossoms. Pinching off blossoms seems counterintuitive to growing fruit, but just trust me on this one.
How to prune tomato plants for maximum yield?
Maintain good airflow by removing lower leaves. Keep the leaf just below the lowest cluster of fruit, and all leaves above that. When the plant reaches the overhead support, the top can be removed to stop further growth, or the vine can be lowered to allow the plant to continue to grow.
Should you tickle tomato flowers?
BUT — if you gently rub your finger over the end of the flower you’re basically doing the job of the insect. This is genuinely known as ‘tickling’. Your plant is more likely to produce fruit by giving it a good tickle. So go ahead, give your tomatoes a good tickle and hear them squeal with delight!
Should I pinch off tomato flowers?
QUESTION: ANSWER: Many gardeners recommend pinching off the first set of flowers a tomato plant produces in late spring, before the plant has been transplanted into the garden.
When should a tomato plant pinch off flowers?
QUESTION: ANSWER: Many gardeners recommend pinching off the first set of flowers a tomato plant produces in late spring, before the plant has been transplanted into the garden. Why do tomato plants pinch off flowers? Pinching off tomato flowers can be beneficial for plant growth.
Why do tomato plants pinch off flowers?
Pinching off tomato flowers can be beneficial for plant growth. When a tomato plant produces an excessive number of flowers, it tends to allocate more energy towards flower production rather than fruit development. By pinching off some flowers, the plant can focus its resources on producing bigger and healthier fruits.
Can you pick flowers off a tomato plant?
When it comes to growing tomato plants, one technique you might have heard of is picking flowers off your tomato plants. This technique, also known as “pruning” or “flower removal,” can be helpful in managing your plant’s energy, resulting in healthier plants and potentially larger fruits.
Should you pinch a tomato plant before transplanting?
Further, the technique only works for seedlings before transplanting is done. From the theory, it is clear that you should not pinch the flowers of your tomato plants if the plants are producing their flowers when already in your garden. Far from this, tomatoes are warm-weather vegetables.
Can you remove flowers from a tomato plant?
Removing flowers from your tomato plants can have specific effects depending on the plant’s type and overall health. Since determinate plants produce a set amount of fruit, removing flowers may result in a reduction of your overall yield.