By the way, i should mention that it's an indeterminate variety... "Best Boy," if I recall.

I don't know Best Boy but if it's indeterminate new lateral branches, aka suckers, should appear and you should get fruits.

Pretty please don't prune anything more. ( smile)

I sure wouldn't pull it up and throw it out.

Carolyn

Thanks Carolyn... but during my pruning massacre, I got rid of all the suckers as well. Will new ones grow? I'm just afraid I won't get any more branches (hence suckers) to develop into a new stalk.

I PROMISE not to do anymore pruning!

Yes, that is too often one of the results pruning - little benefit and lots of lost production. Especially true if it gets too aggressive.

Can I ask why you feel so much pruning is needed? Hopefully it wasn't because you think it is required for some reason. Honestly, there is no benefit from removing all those suckers as they would have produced fruit for you. IMO pruning should only be done in a limited fashion and only to maintain proper support of the plant.

Dave

Dave -- I read about pruning creating larger, more flavorful tomatoes on lots of websites, so I really went at it (remember, I'm a rookie).

Back to the original question though: is the plant shot, as far as tomatoes go? It's only about a 18" high at this point, but starting to flower.

(Please no more pruning lectures -- I get it, I get it! :-)

Your plant is not shot. They are weeds!

If your plant was otherwise healthy and there are any leaves left at all (possibly even if not), it will recover.

It will be slowed down considerably but they are tuff if healthy.

There was a side by side test done last yr. that as I recall, showed severe pruning early had marked positive effects on fruit production and size though by later in the season the results flipped.

Pruning is not necessary but hardly the end of the world either. It can and does affect to varying degrees, the size and shape of the plant from then on. It can and does to varying degrees affect (sometimes positivly) the size, quality and quantity of the fruits both set and future.

If your pot is too small for the plant's ultimate size, or your spacing too tight, or you are using stakes as your support system, or you live in a high humidity area prone to foliage problems, or you'd rather hand clean your plants from pests rather than use chemicals, or use less chemicals because of less foliage and being able to spot and correct problems sooner ...

There are LOTS of GOOD REASONS to prune but like everything eles, a little education and practice is needed to be good at it.

Have fun with it :-)

There are LOTS of GOOD REASONS to prune...

Aw com'on Dave. ;) In general, I agree. But LOTS? Naw. SOME? Yes. Those you mention are valid reasons for SOME pruning, some times, true.

But the problem with most sites about pruning and the arguments made by so many pruning devotees (not you) is that they make no distinctions, no qualifications, no disclaimers, no exceptions. Further they make claims that research has never supported (such as improved "size" which is genetically determined and improved "quality" which is undefined). And they always forget to add anything about the loss in production. Or when they do, they just say, no big deal, just plant more plants to make up the difference. :(

They present the issue as if it is mandatory and those new to growing tomatoes take that as fact, law, gospel. You and I both know it isn't but newbies don't and many have gotten burned as a result.

bronxite - not meant to be a lecture. Just keep in mind that nothing about growing tomatoes is black or white - lots of gray. So moderation in all things is a good row to hoe. Try it both ways and see what works best for you in your growing space/garden.

No, your plant isn't shot. It will recover, will be a bit delayed, but will produce some fruit.

Dave (the other one)

Dave, honestly, I'm the "other" one :-)

Your and other's expertise in gardening and generous sharing of such, far outstrips anything I'll likely achieve ... But just as many sometimes claim to have found the Holy Grail on a particular topic, as you correctly point out, there are more shades of grey than gospel. This is more so since tomatoes are such durable and adaptive plants lending themselves to various cultures, climates, grower's abilities and end use goals.

~~~ (such as improved "size" which is genetically determined ~~~

So you're saying that the ancient culture of removing excess fruit from a fruit tree has no effect on the remaining, or are you saying it is irrelevant to tomatoes?

If irrelevant, then why the repeated suggestions of blossom and fruit removal on young plants? The plant doesn't care if it grows big, tasty fruits, only fertile ones and will sacrifice itself to do so.

All else equal, pruined toms will grow larger leaflets and longer leaves as do plants grown in shade. Shouldn't that too be genetically determined? All things successful, adapt within their own genetic guidelines but in repsonse to each individual's environment and happenstances.

As to Newbies, we all tend toward advising the ideal as we know it but again ... many shades of grey.

I usually learn more from mistakes than success, especially if that success comes early and without knowledge of why :-)

P.S. Ya still think Taxi will grow out of its problem or should I yank it and reduce risk of infection? Thanks!