Pruning Tomato Plants

Question

I have tomato plants about 4 ft tall and full of fruit, but they are so thick that much of the fruit gets no sun. How can I safely prune these plants to allow the fruit to ripen?

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.