Q. You mentioned it is possible to cut back tomatoes for
a fall harvest in hot climates. How far back do you trim them?
a fall harvest in hot climates. How far back do you trim them?
A. No cutting back of tomato is necessary but sometimes
it can help invigorate a plant which has become too large and stimulate more
production. Tomato is a perennial plant that can continue to grow larger and
larger if there are no freezing temperatures.
it can help invigorate a plant which has become too large and stimulate more
production. Tomato is a perennial plant that can continue to grow larger and
larger if there are no freezing temperatures.
 |
| Tomato sucker coming from a larger stem |
Tomatoes
are annuals in temperate climates that have freezing weather because of the
killing low temperatures. However, cutting or trimming back tomatoes to side
shoots can control the size of the plant, keep it more compact, and encourage
new growth that will flower and produce fruit.
are annuals in temperate climates that have freezing weather because of the
killing low temperatures. However, cutting or trimming back tomatoes to side
shoots can control the size of the plant, keep it more compact, and encourage
new growth that will flower and produce fruit.
 |
| Tomato smaller size after summer pruning |
The two
key questions are when to cut them back and how. Cut them back at a time when
new growth is produced during cooler temperatures that allow for fruit to set
from the flowers. The magic temperature that allows fruit to set is between 90
and 95F and lower.
key questions are when to cut them back and how. Cut them back at a time when
new growth is produced during cooler temperatures that allow for fruit to set
from the flowers. The magic temperature that allows fruit to set is between 90
and 95F and lower.
 |
| Tomato fruits with sunburn because of intense sunlight after pruning |
These
temperatures appear in the Fall, usually toward mid to late September.
Therefore, cutting them back around the end of August to the first week in
September should provide some new growth over 2 to 3 weeks as temperatures
cool.
temperatures appear in the Fall, usually toward mid to late September.
Therefore, cutting them back around the end of August to the first week in
September should provide some new growth over 2 to 3 weeks as temperatures
cool.
Timing
is always a bit of a gamble because we don’t know what the temperatures will
be. We can only predict them from historical fall temperatures and experience.
is always a bit of a gamble because we don’t know what the temperatures will
be. We can only predict them from historical fall temperatures and experience.
 |
| Summer pruning tomato for size control |
How to
cut them back is more difficult to explain. It might be easier to tell you what
you shouldn’t do. Don’t cut tomatoes back to a single stem with no side growth
immediately below the cut.
cut them back is more difficult to explain. It might be easier to tell you what
you shouldn’t do. Don’t cut tomatoes back to a single stem with no side growth
immediately below the cut.
Reduce
the size by cutting 1/4 inch above side growth. New growth will come from leaf
axles, i.e. where a side shoot is attached to a main stem.
the size by cutting 1/4 inch above side growth. New growth will come from leaf
axles, i.e. where a side shoot is attached to a main stem.
 |
| Tomato growing new side shoots or suckers lower on the stem after pruning |
When you
are finished cutting back a tomato plant it should look like a smaller version
of the original plant with lots of side shoots still remaining. If you cut back
a plant dramatically you may need to throw some shade cloth or a light colored
and lightweight breathable fabric to provide to some shade and prevent sunburn
to the main stems.
are finished cutting back a tomato plant it should look like a smaller version
of the original plant with lots of side shoots still remaining. If you cut back
a plant dramatically you may need to throw some shade cloth or a light colored
and lightweight breathable fabric to provide to some shade and prevent sunburn
to the main stems.
After
cutting back a plant, lightly fertilize the soil or give it a liquid fertilizer
applied to the leaves. Liquid fertilizers applied to the leaves should be done
early in the morning or late in the day this time of year. It would be ideal to
apply a surface mulch to the top of the soil such as straw, animal bedding,
shredded newspaper or grass clippings to preserve soil moisture.
cutting back a plant, lightly fertilize the soil or give it a liquid fertilizer
applied to the leaves. Liquid fertilizers applied to the leaves should be done
early in the morning or late in the day this time of year. It would be ideal to
apply a surface mulch to the top of the soil such as straw, animal bedding,
shredded newspaper or grass clippings to preserve soil moisture.
What about the plants that have already died off, there is not new growth just a bramble of brown branches? Should I prune down just above the ground? Wait for new growth and then prune back to new growth? I forget what I've done in years past :/ But the gardens look pretty bad with 30 "dead" plants!
TIA,
Sara
If they are dead then of course they will not come back. But if they are still green at the base it is possible to cut them back near the ground and regrow them. The problem maybe sunburn on these stems until you get some new growth sprouting from these pruned stems. Cover the pruned plants with light shade cloth that will "breathe" and let them get some new leaf cover for shade before you take off the shade cloth. After pruning fertilize them with 16-20-0 or a your favorite organic fertilizer that promotes flowering and then water it in. Compost application will work. I always like compost as a fertilizer. Put about three or four cups near the base but not touching it and water it in.
Thank you. I pulled the brown plants and they were certainly dead, NO ROOTS at all! And a hole full of grubs 🙁
Thank you for the spot on advice you gave concerning pruning back my tomato plants. I cut them back and kept them watered during the hot months and this fall have had a bumper crop of small but tasty tomatoes right up till the temperature dropped below 45 degrees. Then I picked all the larger green tomatoes and enjoyed them as they ripened on the shelf.
Thanks,
Robert
Thanks for your comments. I don't hear back from people whether things worked or not for them. I appreciate the feebback!