Tie: When the plant reaches the bottom of the cattle panel, begin tying the main stem loosely to the panel.Suckers: Remove all suckers, which are the straight shoots that grow out of the crook where each horizontal or downward branch meets the main stem.Single stem: Remove all “extra” branches so that only one main stem remains.

Lower branches: I raise my cattle panels to start about 18″ from the ground and I also remove all the branches from the lower 18″ of my plants.Here’s a little tutorial I filmed for you…Can’t see the video? Click here to watch. And some people like to do both! Either way, I ‘ve got you covered.

Some folks like to read instructions while some prefer to watch a demonstration.

choose your trellis: I use large cattle panels secured with zip ties to strong, metal T-posts.

any trellising that would disturb the roots of your plants should be erected prior to planting.

Do whatever works best for you!Īlso see: Are You Planting Tomatoes the Right Way? Sometimes I combine this task with harvesting and sometimes I prune separately. I tend to prune and tie every few weeks throughout the growing season. This reduces the likelihood of disease, and it allows me to space my plants closer together. Removing the lower branches, extra branches, and suckers provides better air flow for my tomato plants.

Indeterminate tomatoes do require more time and effort for pruning and trellising, but I love the continuous harvest, the amazing varieties, and the ability to grow more tomatoes in less space. Typically, most heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate. These days I grow all indeterminate heirloom tomatoes.

produce a continuous supply of fruit until frost kills the plant.

also known as vining tomatoes because the plant grows tall and will sprawl when unsupported.

Four things to know about indeterminate tomatoes:

Free download pruning tomato plants