Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Pruning your tomato plant
• Part 2 of 3: Learning when and how to prune tomato plants
• Part 3 of 3: Starting with your tomatoes

Growing tomatoes on your patio can be a fun and tasty hobby. Most tomato plants grow easily and do not require much care. However, some people find that pruning can help keep a tomato plant healthy, resulting in more tomatoes. The pruning itself is simple and you don't need any special tools to get started.

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Part 1 of 3: Pruning your tomato plant

1. Start at the bottom of the plant. It can help to prune your tomato plant from below and work your way upwards. This will allow you to see the progress and will be able to determine what needs to be removed during the work. Carefully work your way up and prune unnecessary growth.
   • Most pruning will take place at the bottom of the plant.
   • New stems must be removed. These stems take away the nutrients from the fruit.
   • Many stems at the bottom of the plant will not bear fruit.
2. Remove unwanted stems and leaves. Most pruning will consist of pinching out the parts to be removed. Hold the part of the plant between your thumb and forefinger and then gently pinch off a piece. You may need to wiggle the piece back and forth a few times before it loosens enough to pinch off.
   • Most parts of the plant can be pinched off easily.
   • Pruning shears are not necessary unless a section is too large to break off manually.
   • Using pruning shears can potentially make the plant susceptible to infection.
   • If you still have to cut something off the plant, it is better to use a razor.
3. Do not overdo pruning. It is important to leave enough leaves and stems on the plant so that it can continue to function properly. Cutting too much can cause your plant to grow too slowly or even die. Removing too many leaves can expose the fruit to the sun, potentially destroying the tomatoes. If you are unsure whether you need to cut a part, it is better to leave this at the plant.
   • It may be a good idea to leave at least one stem on the plant each time you prune. After all, these stems can produce extra tomatoes.
   • You are supposed to have 4 or 5 stems on your plant that will produce fruit.
   • If your tomatoes were to be exposed to the sun, it is better not to prune stems and leaves for some shade.
   • When pruning, do not remove more than 1/3 of the total plant.

Part 2 of 3: Learning when and how to prune tomato plants

1. Prune your plants once a week. Pruning tomato plants is a long-term effort. New growth will appear all the time and you are supposed to manipulate that growth to produce the most tomatoes. Continue to prune by removing unwanted growth about once a week.
   • If you prune too often, you run the risk of removing more of the plant than is necessary.
   • Not pruning your plant can then cause unnecessary growth.
   • By harvesting tomatoes often, you can usually expect higher yields over the life of the plant.
2. Prune your plants under the best conditions. There are two main things that will help you prune tomato plants: the time of day and the weather. It is recommended to prune in the morning as unwanted stems will break off more easily. It is also important to prune when the plant is dry to prevent disease.
3. Know which parts to prune. The purpose of pruning your tomato plant is to remove unnecessary foliage or growth. To do this you will need to know which parts of the plant can be removed and which parts must remain intact. When pruning a tomato plant, you should focus on removing unnecessary parts so that more tomatoes will eventually be produced:
   • Most low branches can be removed from the plant.
   • Cut away any new stems emerging from old stems.
   • Stems without flowers and fruits can be removed.
   • Pull off any dead or discolored leaves.
4. Consider pruning the main growth. It is common for tomato plants to grow upwards instead of outwards. If your tomato plant has grown too tall, consider pruning the top stems. This will prevent the plant from continuing to grow upwards so that growth will return to the tomatoes.
   • Cutting the top of the plant will prevent any upward growth. This is best done only late in the growing season, before the first frost.
   • Without the top stem, your tomato plant will concentrate growth in the fruit rather than the stems or leaves.

Part 3 of 3: Starting with your tomatoes

1. Get to know the two main types of tomato plants. If you want to grow tomatoes on your patio, you have to make sure you have the right variety. There are two main types of tomato plants: fixed and shaky. Perennial tomato plants will grow into a small shrub and are usually suitable for container planting. Immature tomato plants will grow larger than perennial tomato plants, but they can be a bit more difficult to grow in a container.
   • Perennial tomato plants are usually the best type to grow on your patio.
   • Perennial tomato plants usually do not require pruning.
   • Unstable tomato plants will usually require a wire or a wooden stake to grow properly.
   • Immature tomato plants can also benefit from being pruned.
2. Get a container of the right size. Your tomato plant will need enough space to grow. If your container is too small for your plant, it will struggle to mature and produce tomatoes. Think about how many tomato plants you want to grow on your patio and choose containers that are the right size. Don't forget that tomato plants can grow relatively large themselves.
   • The exact amount of space you need to provide will depend on the type of tomato plant you are growing. Always check the recommended space requirement for your tomato plant when considering a container. As a rule, however, every tomato plant needs a pot with a diameter of at least 35 cm.
   • Most small containers will accommodate one tomato plant.
   • Smaller pots will usually result in smaller tomatoes.
   • You can grow several tomato plants in one container. However, you will have to make sure that each plant has enough space.
   • Larger containers allow the plant to grow better. In addition, these pots retain more moisture in the soil.
3. Provide the best soil. Not all soil is ideal for your tomato plant. The intention is that you give the right type of soil to your plants so that they can grow quickly and fully. The right soil can also affect the quality of the tomatoes the plant produces. When looking for the best soil for your tomato plants, keep some of these tips in mind:
   • Use only high quality potting soil when adding soil to the container. Your plants get nutrients from the soil you provide, so the better the soil, the more your tomato plants will thrive.
   • By adding compost you will provide the plants with extra nutrients.
   • Peat moss may be a good addition to your soil mixture.
   • Avoid using soil from your garden as it may not contain the necessary nutrients or composition.