it is normal. pruning is is only for dead branches and those who sucker there plants an antiquated method proven to lower production ;mostly still used by uninformed gardeners in uk.

It happens and is actually a 'fused stem' where the stem of the blossom cluster fuses to the branch stem. It hurts nothing and actually provides additional support for the weight of the fruit if that cluster sets fruit.

"pruned to put more energy into the original fruits"

Is not an accurate concept. Pruning does not magically re-direct plant energy to fruit. And removing leaves unnecessarily, the source of the plant's energy via photosynthesis, only reduces the plant's ability to make energy. Save the leaf removal for infected or damaged leaves and branches, .

Dave

PS: and any mis-understandings about pruning are far more common in the US than in the UK

Thanks for the reply, I currently have mine pruned to two stems because I have it in a pot on my balcony(not fortunate enough to have my own garden ha) so that makes sense. I was worried it would eventually damage it like you said as it is only weighing down the flower cluster that will eventually become heavy with fruit. Thanks again!

NC it doesn't really matter whether you call it a fused stem or not or what causes it, the results are the same. But for what it is worth when the stems are cross-sectioned above the inflorescence you can usually see the two separate cortex and epidermis that have fused.

As with all pruning, it is a personal choice as long as the reader understands the many ramifications of doing it. And that it isn't something that is required for any reason.

Dave

The branching OP describes is not fused. Just the end of truss turns into a branch. The cluster stem is just like any normal cluster stem. I have one like that already.

Yes, pruning is an option , so is "NOT pruning".

The one aspect is pruning lower leaf branches and some inside the plant, to provide a good air flow. That is what I do with determinants.

The second aspect is choosing/keeping a limited number of stems/branches and pruning the rest, mostly side branching. I do that too on indeterminants just for the same reason NC explained. I give each plant 3.5 to 4 square foot area, instead of 6 , 8 or 9. ( 3ft spacing, for example.).

Sey

"The branching OP describes is not fused"

Such a definitive statement. Based on the photo or because you have one "just like it"? So you have cross-sectioned the one on your plant and determined that is it identical to a photo?

Why is it so vital to dispute that this is or is not a fused stem? Fused stems are really quite common after all and have little effect on the plant.

Dave

Is not a fused stem when a single leader splits into two separate stems w/o it coming from a "sucker"? If so, this is not a fused stem.

"As with all pruning, it is a personal choice as long as the reader understands the many ramifications of doing it. And that it isn't something that is required for any reason."

One of my main reasons for pruning to three stems is so I can get 33% more plants in my given space. This allows me to try more varieties. I have other reasons but that one alone requires me to prune to three stems.

You are always pointing to the commercial grower to prove or disprove others practices, and I could do the same here by pointing to many commercial green house growers that prune to one, two or three stems...

Trusses grow between two leaf node. Stems grow at the nodes, just above the leaf. How the two get fused ?

I will find one and take a picture .

Sey

I found this in internet search

OK, as promised , I looked around in my garden and spotted a truss with a branch growing on it. Here is the picture.

The truss has a perfectly round stem . Usually a fused stem will have a faint figure "8" cross section, not perfectly round.
The stem branches out to 3 flowers (hanging down) and one growth branch ( going upward)

I have another case. On my Riesentraube there are several leaves on the truss but no branch.

These things happen. Last year somebody posted a picture of a leaf branch, with a truss growing on it. That is not so common.

Sey

"Trusses grow between two leaf node. Stems grow at the nodes, just above the leaf. How the two get fused ?"

With normal growth patterns you are right. But early spring growth is often abnormal due to weather/temp fluctuations, young age of the plants, interrupted or stalled growth, nutrient uptake, etc. So just as with fused blooms and fused main and secondary stems, truss stem fusions are also more common. As the new growth develops the nodes often contort the stems - you see the somewhat twisted mass of new growth that hasn't quite straightened itself out yet. That brings multiple parts of the stem into direct contact with any adjacent stem material or even with leaves and they can fuse.

Given sufficient contact time and adequate humidity and cooler temps most any part of the plant can fuse to another part.

_________________

"One of my main reasons for pruning to three stems is so I can get 33% more plants in my given space. This allows me to try more varieties."

NC - Perfectly understandable and a common practice. I have no issue with that reasoning at all. I only mentioned it because of the OP's comment "should this be pruned to put more energy into the original fruits" which implies he had been reading about the old claim of 'suckers sucking energy'. I have always maintained that there are some valid reasons for pruning in the home garden - lack of space, support method used, number of varieties, disease control, soil contact, container growing, etc.

All I object to is new gardeners believing that it is required in order to grow tomatoes or encouraging them to do it without also explaining the problems it can create or the reasons why they choose to do it. You explained so no problem.

For me, it is a only-when-needed option. For example, hail storms got me badly the past 2 days and I lost several main stems. Now it is needed to try to salvage those plants. But had I pruned aggressively from day one there would be nothing left now to try to salvage.

Dave

I think there are things that can go wrong/abnormal in plants kingdom. Another abnormality is mega blooms (aka fused flower). I have several of them right now. Here is one on Daniel Burson.

Sey

Quite an interesting debate. I don't have any photos to share except the mysteriously missing fruit cluster branch on a Sunpeach cherry tomato cluster. I don't know of problems leaving them or that tiny green tomato on this cluster which will never amount to anything but my position is to get rid of anything that has no benefit to me as a grower.