How to prune tomatoes? A detailed explanation of the latest pruning methods
Tomatoes are still very common in our daily lives and are a food that many people really enjoy eating. They are now grown in all parts of our country, and when growing tomatoes, we need to do a good job of pruning. Pruning tomatoes can avoid excessive nutrient consumption, improve air circulation and yield, and so on. So how exactly should tomatoes be pruned? Today the editor has brought you the pruning methods for tomatoes, so let's take a look below!
1. Single-stem pruning method
When growing tomatoes, if it is a dense planting cultivation, then the single-stem pruning method is suitable. The single-stem pruning method can promote tomatoes to ripen and mature as early as possible, and it is also relatively simple to operate, but the number of seedlings used is relatively large. When carrying out single-stem pruning, each tomato plant only needs to keep one main stem. Remove all side branches, and then in cultivation and production, keep about 5-10 fruit clusters on the main stem.
2. Double-stem pruning method
The double-stem pruning method requires one more step than single-stem pruning. In addition to keeping the plant's main stem, you must also pay attention to keeping one side branch and cultivating it into a second main stem so that it can become a fruiting branch. Then remove the excess side branches and the regenerated branches on the double stems. Double-stem pruning is suitable for fields planted more sparsely, is also relatively simple to operate, and does not use a large number of seedlings. During production, generally keep about 5 fruit clusters on each main stem before pinching.
3. Single-stem stem-switching pruning
The single-stem stem-switching pruning method is also based on the single-stem pruning method. When the number of fruit clusters on the main stem reaches about 5, do a good job of pinching. Then, when the fruit at the top begins to expand, choose and keep one side branch at a spot near the top of the plant and let it continue growing. And also pinch it when it grows 5 fruit clusters. This operation can speed up fruit expansion and prevent the plant from becoming leggy.
4. Continuous pinching
Continuous pinching is also mainly based on single-stem pruning. When the fruit has set about 3 fruit clusters, you can begin topping and pinching the main stem. The main stem should be twisted to one side and allowed to grow drooping, and then another side branch should be selected and kept below the main stem and cultivated as the main stem. When the second main stem has set 3 fruit clusters, repeat the previous work, and continue in the same way afterward. This achieves the goal of fruiting in layers. It is also suitable for sparsely planted plots and can increase early yield and prevent leggy growth, but it requires a certain level of operating skill and is also rather troublesome.
The above is a brief introduction to tomato pruning methods. In addition to the above pruning methods, there are also multi-stem pruning methods, removing axillary buds, pinching and leaf removal, and so on, which everyone should pay more attention to. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!