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| Do you trim all the lower leaves and or branches that touch the ground as the plant grows. I think so but wanted to be sure before I break out the pruning shears. Thanks everyone. |
This post was edited by dirtguy50 on Tue, Jun 4, 13 at 12:26
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I trim any leaves that touch the ground and I do not use pruning shears - I just snap them off with my fingernail. |
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- Posted by rnewste 8b NorCal (rnewstead@aol.com) on Tue, Jun 4, 13 at 16:27
| I trim the lower 12 inches to improve air circulation and minimize disease habitat:
Raybo |
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| Holy Cow! Those are some beautiful plants! What variety is that and where'd you get those bad cages? Love the whole set up! |
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| Thanks everyone. Off to do some trimming!!! |
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| Amen to Cheryl's questions! Nifty cages. |
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- Posted by Hudson...WY Z3 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 4, 13 at 22:24
| We also prune the bottom 12"s of leaves - sometimes even a little higher later in the season. Once the plant is established - we do not let any leaves or branches touch the ground for reasons mentioned above.
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| Hudson, I always follow you and Raybo for advise. The reason I asked is I know not to have the leaves on the ground but if it is necessary to just trim some leaves or is it advisable to remove the whole stem. I am doing a Florida weave this year for the first time and the lower branches can easily droop and touch the ground. I don't want to remove more than necessary but sure want to remove enough. Thanks. |
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- Posted by Centurion_ Verde Valley AZ Z8 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 5, 13 at 0:52
| Very nice set ups Raybo and Hudson. Thank you both for your responses and your pics. Tomorrow I will do some pruning. One question though. I live in the desert. You think I should I leave more at the bottom to protect the stems from our bright desert sun? We've already seen 100 degree + temps this year. |
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- Posted by Hudson...WY Z3 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 5, 13 at 4:56
| Centurion - growing tomatoes in Wyoming requires a GH, at least in my area - so I have had limited experience growing tomatoes in the garden - let alone in the desert - but it makes sense to me to leave as much foliage as necessary on the plant to protect the plant/fruit from the sun. However, the exposure of the main tomato plant stalk to the sun 12"s from the soil should be minimal? The bottom leaves even 12"s from the soil should shade and protect the main tomato plant stalk? You may have to clip just the leaves that touch the soil leaving the stem and the leaves that don't touch the soil to protect the plant? Dirtguy - When my tomato plants are small - I only clip the leaves touching the soil and leave the stems and leaves on the plant that don't - then as the plants grow and have plenty of leaves and more leaves touch the soil - I just remove the entire leaf stem. In my opinion - I would do your Florida weave then just remove the leaves that are touching the soil and not cut off the entire leaf stem. Later in the season when the bottom tomatoes have been harvested and the bottom leaves on the plant turn yellow and no longer perform their function - I remove them to reduce possible stress to the plant and let the upper leaves do their job. On the other hand - I am a Wyoming cowboy that just enjoys gardening as a hobby - and you guys know as much as I do - but it is sure fun sharing ideas!
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- Posted by Centurion_ Verde Valley AZ Z8 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 5, 13 at 13:29
| Very impressive set up Hudson. Thank you for your response. I went out this morning and trimmed everything within six inches of the ground. Most of my plants are lined up east to west for protection from the sun, so I think I'm set. |
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- Posted by harveyhorses 7 Midlothian Va (My Page) on Wed, Jun 5, 13 at 19:33
| LOL! I saw those red tomatoes and my mouth watered! Nice set up. |
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| Wow Hudson, those tomato plants are huge! What variety are they? And what an amazing set up! How'd you do that? Is that a greenhouse? Are the plants draped over top of that cage-like structure and did you build that yourself? I've never seen anything like that before and I'm super impressed with your creativity and super jealous of your beautiful red tomatoes..... |
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- Posted by Hudson...WY Z3 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 6, 13 at 0:17
| Hi Cheryl - thanks for your comments - I have to come clean - the photos are from last years crop. The first photo was taken in July and the second in October. Here are photos of this years plants.
Last years tomatoes were all Better Boy - this year we have Better Boy, German Giant, Brandy Boy, Sweet Baby Girl and Super Marzano. I use cattle panels to support our tomato plants and prune them to grow between the panel and the GH roof panels. We designed and built our own GH and came up with supports and solutions on the fly. We are still learning as we go and appreciate your compliments.
Our tomato plants are about 8' in height now (all of our plats are indeterminate) with good size green tomatoes on the lower clusters but Sweet Baby Girl cherry tomatoes are the only tomatoes ripe to date.
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