The Latest Detailed Tutorial on Tomato Pruning Techniques and Methods

Tomato is a vigorous-growing, strongly branching vine-type vegetable crop. Therefore, in artificial cultivation, in order to facilitate management, to support the tomato's growth condition, increase the fruit-setting rate, and improve fruit quality, a series of pruning techniques are generally used to shape and train the plant. To achieve the above cultivation goals. However, some growers who have not accumulated much experience greatly need the content on shaping and pruning that I am going to discuss next.

I. Purpose of Pruning

Pruning is first of all to improve the tomato's growing environment, lower the temperature and humidity inside the plant, and avoid the occurrence of diseases. It can also allow the inner leaves to better receive light and carry out photosynthesis to produce more nutrients. It is also to concentrate nutrients to supply the robust branches and vines and the growth of the fruit, reduce unnecessary consumption, and avoid a decline in fruit quality. At the same time, pruning out a suitable shape is to facilitate field management and make future harvesting convenient.

II. Pruning Time

Pruning is generally carried out in summer. In spring the plant is mainly growing; by summer the branches and vines grow vigorously and affect reproductive growth and fruit quality, so pruning is needed to shape and train the plant and balance growth.

III. Pruning Methods

1. Single-stem training

The main point is to keep only one main stem, then remove all the side branches that sprout. When the main stem has 3 to 4 fruit trusses, it can be pinched to remove apical dominance and stop the main stem from growing further. When removing side branches, generally leave two leaves to ensure development and also to prevent injury to the main stem. When pinching, be careful to stay some distance from the fruit truss and leave a few more leaves above the fruit truss. This prevents fruit drop caused by a lack of photosynthetic nutrients.

2. Double-stem training

Double-stem management means that, on the basis of single-stem training, one more robust side branch below the first inflorescence is selected as the second main stem, and from then on all side branches and buds on both main stems are removed. The growth of the two stems is maintained. Generally the second main stem is managed as a fruiting branch. All the properly pruned branches and vines should be tied to a trellis, which helps them grow upward.

So the above are the main methods for tomato pruning and shaping. Maintaining a reasonable and fixed plant form greatly assists its growth, and at the same time it can bring great convenience to the manager and is very beneficial for increasing yield and improving quality. At the same time, this necessary step must not be missed in production.