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Bushy indeterminates - need thinning/pruning at all for air flow/

Posted by emileeg DFW, TX (My Page) on
Mon, Jun 9, 14 at 10:08

Sorry to bring up this age old debate again, but I didn't see anything as it relates to my concern.

I haven't been pruning my tomatoes at all this year and they've taken off! Thank God for y'all :) My concern is that one of my tomatoes in particular (A grafted San Marzano) is seriously going crazy!

What I'm wondering about is that it's really starting to look kind of crowded in the interior of the "bush." Is this healthy? I'd always read that being crowded is just asking for problems - is this only between different plants, not in the same plant? I have branches rubbing against each other, leaves hanging in the dirt... Plants need good air flow, right? To be clear, this is all happening within one plant - I decided to err on the side of caution and spaced my tomatoes out pretty far from each other. So, is there anything I ought to do?

I will post pictures when I can - right now it's pouring outside! #hallelujah


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Bushy indeterminates - need thinning/pruning at all for air f

If you can access the middle of the plant you can thin out the leaf branches as needed to improved the air circulation if needed. Remove a few completely or trim some back by half as needed.

So much of adequate air circulation depends on local environment - dominant wind direction amount of wind/breeze, etc. - which is so different for all of us So if the amount of air circulation in your garden is minimal and prone to 'none' then yes some thinning will help. But if your garden is in an open area where there is a steady breeze blowing most of the time it is probably fine as is.

Dave


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RE: Bushy indeterminates - need thinning/pruning at all for air f

Aside from the general pruning or not pruning practice, I would prune the lower branches to allow air circulation under the plant and prevent rotting and possible soil born diseases. bacteria thrive and multiply in stagnant and moist environment. The top part also needs air circulation. A thick and tightly woven top would resist winds too and may increase the chances of plant tending to fall over, especially if it is staked supported by cheap cage.


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