Over pruned

15 years ago

This was my first time growing tomatoes and I decided to try pruning. With three plants, I did varying levels of pruning, but they were three different types. the plant I pruned the least is doing well (mr. stripey), though where I pruned, there are only leaves that are looking a little stale, while the other stalks are growing healthy leaves and starting to set fruit. this plant is closing in on two feet.

The plant I pruned the medium amount (beefsteak) has healthy leaves, but they aren't growing anything else. Just recently a stalk has shot up next to the main one and seems to be fairly healthy. this second talk is about 8 inches now.

The one I pruned the most (black prince), sadly has its main leaves wilting to about 5 inches, but another stalk just emerged and grew to about 6 inches in short order. the leaves on the new stalk seem healthy.

I thought I was dealing with some disease at first, then thought maybe the pruning and really started to believe it was the latter when new healthy growth appeared.

I guess my question is, "should I eliminate the dying leaves and stalks and leave just the healthier parts? or is the old growth helping fuel the new growth?

Everything is grown in raised beds with purchased quality black dirt. I checked around to see about who was known for quality soil in my area. I think it's mixed with a mushroom compost.

The beds are filled to 26 inches in height with soil, so there is plenty of room to grown down and everything is caged or staked. I use drinking water safe hoses and drip irrigation on my beds.

all other plants in the bed are doing fine, including eggplant, Summer Squash, three pepper plants, lettuce and onions.

The bed is 10'X 4'.

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Comments (5)

homegardenpa
15 years ago
"I guess my question is, "should I eliminate the dying leaves and stalks and leave just the healthier parts? or is the old growth helping fuel the new growth?"

Short answer: Stop pruning.

Longer answer: Pruning isn't needed. Some do it to for larger, but fewer fruits, or to adapt the plant to their preferred support method and some, like myself, prune any and all leaves touching the ground - or anything below the first flower truss once plants are about 2-3 ft tall (this is done to help air circulation and reduce exposure to soil borne pathogens) and then stop pruning altogether.

It sounds like you've pruned to the point where you plants are heavily stressed by it and have begun to stagnate and / or decline. I would not prune any further unless the leaves in question have some sort of infection (Septoria, Early Blight, etc.) as any pruning is just going to stress them further. Leave them be and just water when needed (deeply - once every 5-7 if no rain).
digdirt2
15 years ago
Agree. Your post title says it all - "over-pruned" and the solution is to stop the pruning and let the plants recover. Once they do show significant new growth you can then carefully remove any dead or damaged leaves or just let them fall off on their own.

Dave
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adiankur13
Original Author
15 years ago
thanks a bunch. I am a person who gets a little antsy if I am not doing something. I think I will plant a multitude of Tomato plants next year and experiment a bit more. I will also learn when to sit and just enjoy watching the plants grow.
karendee
15 years ago
"I think I will plant a multitude of Tomato plants next year and experiment a bit more. I will also learn when to sit and just enjoy watching the plants grow."

I think I am going to do the same thing. I am planning on making a much larger vegetable garden area on the side of my yard. I want many more tomato plants. Some I can expirement on and some I can leave alone. I like learning but I want tomatoes too!
digdirt2
15 years ago
If someone really needs to prune their plants for some reason then there are recommended ways to do it that don't damage or stress the plants. It will reduce production of fruit but it won't stress or damage the plant when done correctly.

"Experimental" pruning really isn't necessary. Research first all the "how-to" info available.

Dave