Pruning tomato plants is one of the most important practices used by gardeners. Many of them claim that leaf pruning improves yield and overall plant health. Personally, I am all for pruning and continue to use this method.
After pruning, the tomatoes feel great, are not susceptible to diseases, do not burst or crack, and the fruiting itself increases significantly compared to the years when I did little or no pruning. Moderate pruning of the leaves has a positive effect on tomatoes. And these are not just my assumptions, but a scientifically proven fact.
One of the reasons for this positive effect is that with each foliage cut, the tomato bush receives a signal that additional roots need to be formed. This makes the plant stronger and healthier. Increasing the number of roots provides more nutrients that reach the plant and the fruits. In addition, pruning transfers the plants to the generative phase, which has a positive effect on fruit filling and the formation of new tomatoes.
Another advantage of pruning the lower leaves is that the fruits receive better light, which allows them to ripen faster. Dense, dense bushes are more likely to suffer from diseases, and their appearance leaves much to be desired. In addition, the photosynthesis of plants is sufficient when there are a certain number of leaves on the flower clusters, so there is no need to worry about this.
If your tomato plant is very large and this prevents it from bearing fruit, it is recommended to carry out more frequent and intensive pruning. You can cut it back, which will help speed up the use of nitrogen in the soil. Shrubs with unlimited stem growth need more regular pruning, preferably every 10 days, especially removing the lower leaves that can protect the fruit from sunlight.
Tomatoes with limited growth, on the other hand, need to be pruned when necessary, for example when the lower leaves turn yellow or when the bush becomes too bushy.
