by Bethany Hayes
Have you ever seen a gardener quotation that they topped their tomato plant ? exceed tomato plant plants is a type of pruning that might seem counterproductive , but when done aright in the right-hand portion it can lead to prolific harvests and salubrious growth .
Tomato plant derive in two diversity : determinate and indeterminate tomato . Determinate tomato works are ego - specify and rarely turn above four feet marvelous . Indeterminate tomato , on the other hand , continue to get until the first icing of the yr . It ’s not uncommon for these tomato plant life to reach over six feet tall .
Pruning is a life-sustaining part of the upkeep of undetermined plant , but not all pruning is the same . One method you might require to use is top-hole , and you require to apply this correctly to deflect damaging your tomato plants .
So , let ’s dive into what it means to top tomato plants and how it do good your plants .
What is Topping Tomato Plants?
Most people live that pruning indeterminate tomato plants helps your plants stay healthier with fewer disease and lead to a better harvest . Topping is a form of tomato pruning , but it is different . The full-grown conflict is that steady pruning only has you remove the lollipop or the branches that lessen airflow , but topping is when you veer off the top of your tomato plant .
Yes , really , you cut off the entire tops of your tomato plants .
It ’s important to note that topping love apple plants only by and large use to indeterminate Lycopersicon esculentum unless your goal is to mature the fruit because icing is come . Otherwise , pruning determinate tomato works will lead to s a significant reduction in your harvest .
The Benefits of Topping Tomato Plants
top-flight tomato plants come with several benefit , which is why nurseryman persist in to use this practice . It sends lettuce and food to other parts of the industrial plant .
We do n’t see it , but tomato plant have a draw going on , and the plant has to determine where to beam its energy . In some cycles , the plant send more vigor into foliage development or growing in elevation . At other times , the plant sends more sugars and nutrient to flowering and fruits .
With that in psyche , here are some of the welfare of topping .
If you grow indeterminate , heirloom Lycopersicon esculentum , do n’t be surprised if some of your plants reach over six feet tall . The vining varieties excel at develop magniloquent , which can be a trouble when it come to supporting .
This year , a few of my tomato grew so tall that they terminate up evenfall over the tops of the cages and breaking . Topping love apple plant keeps them within a sure peak and makes it easier for the sustenance system to keep them growing correctly .
love apple plants maturate back healthier after topping . During a traditional development cycle , the fruits compete with grow stalks for the sugars created by the works through photosynthesis and nutrient absorb in the dirt .
When we remove the top of the Lycopersicon esculentum works , it intercept that competition between the yield and the stalks . All the sugars are sent in the appropriate cycle instead of being divided into different places .
If you have a leggy tomato plant , topping the plants helps precede to a bushier , duncical , and sturdier industrial plant , capable of stand firm nothingness and rain . In addition , topping plant prevents upward growth , so the plants send more energy into producing full lateral stems .
After topping the plants , you ’ll comment that the works couch more energy into creating more flowers after recovery . More heyday lead to more fruit that you ’ll glean in a few months .
One of the only times you should top tomato plants is when the first Robert Lee Frost of the class is derive , and the plant still has tons of unripened fruit . When you cut off the tops of the plants at this late phase , the plant beam all of its vim into ripen fruits rather than growing new foliage or increase in height .
Downsides to Topping Tomatoes
Some gardeners never top their tomato plants for several reason , so you have to decide what works best for you and your garden .
allow ’s be good ; gardening is a lot of employment . You ’ll spend hours in your garden , and topping tomatoes feels like one more thing that you have to do . Sometimes , it feels daunting to bring something else to your to - do leaning .
Once you top sure varieties of tomatoes , it becomes a project that you require to continue to do . That can feel overwhelming , especially if you have a gravid garden .
Not all tomato varieties should be topped , and for some , keep on the difference direct can be confusing at times . You never desire to top a determinate love apple plant life .
Cutting off tons of a plant life feel uneconomical . While you may compost the cut , after all the meter it took to grow those plants , it feel uneconomical to cut them .
When is the Best Time for Topping Tomato Plants
Tomato topping is the last necessary pruning your plants demand in the growing cycle . The honorable time for topping is 30 to 45 days before the first frost in the fall . However , some top them 60 days before the final rime ; think that ripen often takes two to three weeks !
It ’s hard to presage the timing of your first frost since Mother Nature is never predictable , so use the recommend USDA first frost engagement based on your Agriculture zona .
How to Top Tomato Plants
top-flight tomato plants is a morsel different from regular pruning . It does n’t need the remotion of suckers , and while airflow is essential , you do n’t occupy about that when topping .
rather , here is what you involve to sleep together .
One of the best times to top your plants is when they reach the top of their support system . Strong cages are typically five to six metrical foot grandiloquent , so at this point , topping tells the industrial plant that it ’s time to stop growing taller and send more energy into flowering and fruiting .
Here ’s what you need to do .
Take sharp garden scissors or shears , and reduce off the top of every vertical bow . This cut need to be ¼ inch above a side shoot from the main vertical shoot .
You also require to make certain you cut off any suckers near the top of the flora . Suckers will train into a new stem . However , verify you pass on the leave at the top of the plant because the fruits receive energy and gelt from the leaves above them .
You ’ll need to cut back the tops of the plant weekly because the plant will put on new increment . The industrial plant will send muscularity into the lateral stem the more often you cut the top .
Typically , it ’s healthier when the plant grow back , but you ’ll observe that the side arm get farseeing and too big for your support system . Also , the industrial plant will step by step post free energy back to creating unexampled increase instead of the fruits if you do n’t keep overstep the plant .
When Not to Top or Prune Tomato Plants
Not all tomato plants should be topped or pruned . You already know that pruning determinate plants is generally considered a no - no . The only love apple plant that need to be pruned or go past are 1 that need to be staked or cage in .
However , you also should never prune plants suffering from heyday - ending rot . Rather than making it well , pruning makes blossom end rot regretful . This is also true for any plant life with cracking fruits .
Final Thoughts
Topping tomato plant has two basal intent : preventing excessive growth and forcing fruit to ripen before Robert Frost . With that in mind , make indisputable you time the topping correctly and keep up with the cutting each workweek to stop the industrial plant from growing back . The health of the works and harvest size will show why topping is a peachy idea !
