Pruning Stems Off Tomato Plants Other Than Just Suckers

Question

I find all sorts of articles on pruning suckers that grow on tomato plants, but my question is can I cut back stems that are very long and weigh it down and get in the way of other plants and get in the way of my tomatoes growing. They are stems that do not grow the tomatoes. I know the plants need leaves for shading and nutrients but they are pulling down my plants and getting in the way, so I want to trim them and maybe remove some.

Answer 1

We normally do not advise pruning tomatoes, and the tomato fruit ripen with heat rather than sunlight. But if it is very dense, it could cause problems with airflow, which can invite disease in. If you decide to prune, use a very clean pair of shears and cut at the place where the branch you are trimming meets the stem. Allow it to air dry and do not water the foliage of the plant for a day after you prune.