Pruning Fertilizing & Mulching My Tomatoes

[usc529]

hey guys want to share with you my tomato plants

[PA_Julia]

I've watched a few of your videos.
All very informative and educational.
Thank you for the instruction.
I'll be using what I've learned here with my own tomatoes.


Julia

[usc529]

thank you very much wish me luck this year

[RayR]

I like your garden assistant, she's a real worker!

[kath]

Welcome, usc529, and thanks for posting your video. I've been having good luck with pruning my tomato plants for the past 2 years- it helps reduce foliar disease in our humid summers. Best wishes for an abundant harvest! kath

[st3v3]

great video!

I also prune my tomatoes very similar to how you have done. I usually prune all the suckers until they are about knee high; i think it does make a huge difference with disease problems. Also agree that mulching is very important; it really helps to retain soil moisture, keeps weeding to a minimum, and also helps w/ disease control.

One thing i do differently is to till in organic matter before i plant into the ground. But on everything else, i think you're dialed in!

Ah... i remember the days when i had such a good helper as you have; I'm sure she adds a little love to the garden that you just can't get anywhere else!

My helper is away at college, but she always looks forward to a good ole tomato sandwich when she comes home during the summer!

Again, thanks for posting.

ps. What varieties are you growing??

[Tracydr]

Very nice! Oh, the video and tomatoes are nice too, lol!
I'm trellising mine just like you are this year, too. Just seems to be the easiest and most economical way. Plus, I can use the trellises for so many things. We cut them in 8 foot lengths which makes them easy to move and store as well.

[usc529]

Originally Posted by st3v3

great video!

I also prune my tomatoes very similar to how you have done. I usually prune all the suckers until they are about knee high; i think it does make a huge difference with disease problems. Also agree that mulching is very important; it really helps to retain soil moisture, keeps weeding to a minimum, and also helps w/ disease control.

One thing i do differently is to till in organic matter before i plant into the ground. But on everything else, i think you're dialed in!

Ah... i remember the days when i had such a good helper as you have; I'm sure she adds a little love to the garden that you just can't get anywhere else!

My helper is away at college, but she always looks forward to a good ole tomato sandwich when she comes home during the summer!

Again, thanks for posting.

ps. What varieties are you growing??

thank you very much and yes she is an amazing helper loves working in the garden. The varieties are all heirloom and mostly beefsteak but they are dester, kellogs, watermelon, black prince, brandywine, ildi cherry & lemon drop cherry

[usc529]

Originally Posted by Tracydr

Very nice! Oh, the video and tomatoes are nice too, lol!
I'm trellising mine just like you are this year, too. Just seems to be the easiest and most economical way. Plus, I can use the trellises for so many things. We cut them in 8 foot lengths which makes them easy to move and store as well.

that a good idea 8' foot lengths you should have saw me trying to move that 16' piece by myself haha

[Worth1]

Nice video I love the southern accent.

I dont prune the branches (what you call suckers) but I do prune the lower leaves.

When the side branch leaves get to the point of touching the ground I cut those leaves off too.

When finished they look like small palm trees.

I bet my neighbors think I have the most scraggly tomato plants they have ever seen.

Little do they know.

Worth

[FILMNET]

I got 3 crops from my plants a few years ago. keep it clean for over 35 days, Flowers.then it grew taller, more flowers around 60 days. Final growth lat summer with new fruit on top of plants. Good thing i keep up with my Florida Weave as i had huge Brandywine fruit 5 " above the ground, i tied the branches to the string, tightened the string with a staple gun. My posts were wooden.

[usc529]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Nice video I love the southern accent.

I dont prune the branches (what you call suckers) but I do prune the lower leaves.

When the side branch leaves get to the point of touching the ground I cut those leaves off too.

When finished they look like small palm trees.

I bet my neighbors think I have the most scraggly tomato plants they have ever seen.

Little do they know.

Worth

haha yea some of mine started to look like palm trees to.It rained right after i did all that so hopefully it'll take off and grow me some materssss haha

[TightenUp]

cool video. thanks for posting. whats your "soil conditioner" made up of? compost?

[ArcherB]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Nice video I love the southern accent.

I dont prune the branches (what you call suckers) but I do prune the lower leaves.

When the side branch leaves get to the point of touching the ground I cut those leaves off too.

When finished they look like small palm trees.


Worth

I do the same here. Anything touching the ground gets cut or tied to the cage. Other than that, the only thing I prune are the dead or dying leaves for appearance more than anything else.

As for suckers, those are like free plants attached the same root system.

I do have one point. I keep hearing people refer to leaves as "taking" energy. Don't leaves PRODUCE energy?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by ArcherB

I do have one point. I keep hearing people refer to leaves as "taking" energy. Don't leaves PRODUCE energy?

That's right, leaves produce energy the only thing that takes energy is the tomato its self.
Last I heard that is what we were doing this for.
With cages I personally see no reason the cut growing stems.
Staking for commercial growers yes, maybe.

Worth