Tomatoes are a staple of the British summer, whether as part of a salad, in a sandwich, or as a pasta sauce. But did you know that a little bit of light pruning could help the fruit grow to a larger size?
Any gardener will tell you the very best tomatoes are the ones grown in your own garden. And the arrival of British summertime brings with it the promise of a bumper crop.
Growing the sweetest tomatoes depends on factors like temperature, soil variety, and levels of rainfall and sunshine. But influencing the fruits’ size is much simpler.
A gardening guru from Bonnie Plants shares that a spot of timely pruning can work wonders for your tomato crop. “Pruning at the right time directs energy toward creating and ripening fruit instead of making more leaves”, they said.
Yet, it’s key to remember that skills in technique are essential in gardening guidance. The horticulturalist said pruning tomatoes isn’t a one-size-fits-all job.
They cautioned: “You should only prune indeterminate varieties, which produce new leaves and flowers continuously through the growing season. If you prune determinate varieties, you may reduce the harvest,” reports the Express.
Such tomatoes are commonly known as cordon varieties as they grow tall, usually along a single stem, and need staking with a cane or trellising for support. When it comes to pruning these indeterminate types, the Royal Horticultural Society recommends snipping away the side shoots.
Untended, these shoots swiftly balloon into a tangle of ‘scrambling, leafy stems that are difficult to support, produce few fruits, and take up a lot of space’.
How to prune tomato plants
Side shoots, also known as “suckers,” sprout in the joint between the stem and branch of a tomato plant, referred to as the axil. They’re simple to remove with your fingers or secateurs.
You can nip them off or snip them – just ensure they come away cleanly. Prompt removal is the most efficient way to focus the plant’s energy on producing large, juicy tomatoes.
The RHS recommends inspecting tomato plants for suckers every time you water them and nipping them off immediately. If you’re after quantity, it’s not worth it as you’ll end up with fewer tomatoes overall by removing the tomato suckers.
However, the fruits your plant yields “will grow to a larger size”, according to Nicola from Gardenary. An added bonus is that you might also get some fruit a bit earlier.
In the UK, indeterminate tomato plants typically start bearing fruit from mid-summer onwards, with the first fruits usually appearing in July and August. The harvest season can extend well into early autumn, often through September, and even longer if conditions are favourable.