Determinate Tomatoes - Staking and Pruning

5 weeks ago, I bought and planted 12 tomato seedlings. ( celebrity and heatwave) As most of you already know, they are of the determinate variety. I bought these before I knew the difference.  ( I have learned since that indeterminate are better for our sfg because they grow up and not so much out since and can be better pruned to stay out of the way of other squares) They are doing very well (I think) for five weeks and my first year.  So well in fact that some of the leaf stems or production stems coming off the main stem are starting to crowd an shade other squares. I have read that it's better NOT to prune determinate varieties, but I think I'm going to need to. Mainly, I'm wanting to tie some of the production or leaf stems up and out of the way by loosely attaching them to the stake like I have the main stem.  What is the best way to do this without damaging these stems that are likely to produce or are already beginning to produce blooms and tiny fruits?  Any suggestions, images, advice or links would be appreciated. I've pretty much scoured YouTube and didn't really get any answers.

See how they are beginning to crowd each other and shade my Corn? They are actually starting to push the interior stalks over.  Note: that white stuff is 7 dust.

Turan posted this nice reply below with chart under another thread.  Brian, you can get yourself comfortable and start at the bottom with the main stem and carefully work your way up that stem, pruning from bottom to top.  Where there is one nice sucker with flowers on a plant that you want to let grow, you can stake it like it's another plant.  You can also shorten leaves or remove some leaves to protect your corn if you want. This is your first year and you are learning a lot.

Yes you can tie it to a stake.  Also, see in the crotch of where that leaf leaves the main stem there is a new branch starting?  I would pinch that branch (often called a sucker) off to help keep the plant within bounds.  You can pinch that leaf off as well.

sanderson wrote:Turan posted this nice reply below with chart under another thread.  Brian, you can get yourself comfortable and start at the bottom with the main stem and carefully work your way up that stem, pruning from bottom to top.  Where there is one nice sucker with flowers on a plant that you want to let grow, you can stake it like it's another plant.  You can also shorten leaves or remove some leaves to protect your corn if you want.  This is your first year and you are learning a lot.

Yes you can tie it to a stake.  Also, see in the crotch of where that leaf leaves the main stem there is a new branch starting?  I would pinch that branch (often called a sucker) off to help keep the plant within bounds.  You can pinch that leaf off as well.

Yes I am.  And I appreciate you guys helping. I have learned a lot about different types and varieties of tomatoes and what I think I can improve on in regard to selection for next year.  Indeterminate as opposed to determinate ect.  I still might plant a couple determinates for an earlier quicker harvest and will replant that square when they give out. Then I will plant 18 or so more indeterminate for the gift that keeps on giving all year long . In march I should have 80 squares ready to go.  I started out with 40 this year.  I will probably plant a mixture of hybrid and heirloom, while I learn more about the care for the more difficult heirlooms.   I have also learned that I have a lot more to learn about which crops to plant where , so they compliment each other and don't shade out those crops that don't need that. If I remember what I read correctly, the taller the plant gets, the further to the north and west I should plant them in my beds???  Is that right??  I am curious though if shading from other structures could change that??

I took this pic this morning at 9:30 am my time. (40 days from seeding transplant) US Central.  I am standing on the east side.  The bed planted is on the north side.  The wooden fence is on the west side. I was thinking about planting cukes in the far west squares and tomatoes in the 2 far north sections, working my way about the shorter the crop.