Tomatoes will be bigger and ripen faster if you complete 1 simple gardening task
Tomato plants can be notoriously fickle, with the sweetness of the fruit depending on factors like temperature, soil type, and the balance of rain and sunshine the plant receives.
Juicy tomatoes are a quintessential summer delicacy and often said to taste even more delightful when plucked from one's own backyard. The sweetness of this beloved fruit is influenced by various elements such as temperature, soil type, and the ideal mix of rainfall and sunlight exposure the plant gets, whereas moderating the size of the fruit tends to be a simpler task.
An expert from Bonnie Plants highlighted how a bit of judicious pruning can work wonders for your tomato plants. "Pruning at the right time directs energy toward creating and ripening fruit instead of making more leaves," the gardening expert stated. Still, it's vital to remember that pruning isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, and there's an art to it.
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The horticultural expert advised: "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."
These types of tomatoes are best referred to as cordon varieties; they reach for the skies, generally sprouting along a single stem, and require the stability of a cane or trellis for support.
For trimming indeterminate varieties, none other than the esteemed Royal Horticultural Society in the UK advises gardeners to snip away the side shoots, reports the Mirror US.
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Neglecting these shoots leads to rampant growth, resulting in a chaotic nest of leafy stems which are notoriously hard to manage, bear scant fruit, and claim more garden space than necessary.
Guidance on how to properly prune tomato plants
Removing side shoots, also referred to as "suckers," is a key part of caring for tomato plants. These shoots sprout from the axil, the area where the stem and branch meet.
Simply pinch or cut them off using your fingers or a pair of secateurs, ensuring a clean removal.
Regularly removing side shoots is the best way to encourage your tomato plants to channel their energy into producing larger, juicier fruit.
In fact, the Royal Horticultural Society suggests inspecting your plants for suckers every time you water them and removing them straight away.
That being said, if you're prioritising quantity over size, removing tomato suckers may not be the most effective approach, as this could lead to a lower overall yield. Nevertheless, Nicola from Gardenary notes that the tomatoes that do grow "will grow to a larger size".
