Pruning indeterminate tomatoes

I decided to grow my four tomato plants up a string this year. I watched the front porch video about pruning the suckers off and regularly removed them through the season. I had planted them each in one square based on what others said here, but they were all over my 3x8 bed and crowding out my other plants and even out onto the ground. The branches just kept going and going. Is there something more I need to be doing? Just taking the suckers off wasn't enough. I'd like to do the stringing again, because I prefer it over a cage, but either need to give the tomatoes more room or keep them smaller. Help!

Hi Kate,

You have to keep on them and make sure you get every sucker.
its almost a daily job, I have done this for two years now and am very happy with my results. Now I actually do a thero inspection once a week top to bottom of every vine to keep up withe the new suckers. Its also the only way I can beat my wife the the bite size ripe tomatoes.

This is my first year trellis.



and this is this years trellis.

So, the branches that stay on don't get that long? it's only the suckers that do? I felt like I got all (or nearly all) the suckers, I was checking once or twice a week.

Hi kate,
Here is a bit from the video I learned it from and a link at the bottom to the video.

when growing a tomato plant you want to have a single stem. Wait until four or five fruit bearing trusses have grown from the stem, then pinch out any additional side shoots.
grab a growing tip by the base between the thumb and forefinger, and bend it back and forth until it snaps cleanly. This should ideally be done when the shoot is young and supple. Use your fingers not a tool.

as the plant begins to mature, the lower leaves will naturally begin to yellow and wilt. This is perfectly normal, so pull these from the plant when they appear. It will keep the plant fresh, looking good, and help ward of disease.

To get the best out of the last growth of the season, it is necessary to "top" the plant. About a month before the first expected frost, or when the plant hits the roof of your greenhouse, remove the plants terminal shoot. At this point in the season, the tomatoes currently growing will have a limited time to reach maturity, so all nutrients must be directed straight to the fruit.


Excerpts from a video from Capel Manor College. UK
Video Link: How to prune tomatoes

Thanks so much, Hoggar! I'm looking forward next season to improve my tomato pruning technique.

Glad I could help.

I found this lady's videos really helpful. She's got a bunch of them up on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJgA4n-sCE8

HTH!

mollyhespra wrote:I found this lady's videos really helpful. She's got a bunch of them up on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJgA4n-sCE8

HTH!

Thanks! That's the one I watched initially, but she never talked about pruning other than the suckers, so I wasn't sure what to do other than that.

Kate888 wrote:

mollyhespra wrote:I found this lady's videos really helpful. She's got a bunch of them up on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJgA4n-sCE8

HTH!

Thanks! That's the one I watched initially, but she never talked about pruning other than the suckers, so I wasn't sure what to do other than that.

I prune below the lowest fruiting body as well as the suckers.