Hot topic. ;) Often debated and discussed and never resolved.

One has to consider if the plant is a determinate vs. an indeterminate variety, the method of support for the plants, prevalent diseases and pests in the local area, weather locally, odds of sun scalding of fruit, time available for garden care, container grown or in-ground, etc., etc.

Theoretically, in-ground plants can have unlimited resources available. And there is little doubt that the leaves are the source of needed plant energy. Plus it needn't be an either/or situation. There are all sorts of "degrees of pruning" practiced. BUt what concerns me is those who believe it is mandatory for some reason.

Personally, other than removing leaf branches up to just below the first fruit truss, I'm in the no prune camp for several different reasons. But the best approach is to try several different methods and see which works best for you in your garden.

Good luck with your garden this year.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Past pruning debates and discussions....

Great post, Dave, I'm with you! I DO light pruning, but primarily to keep the plant within my ability to control the density and size of my indeterminate varieties. In contrast, my FIL insists on pruning to one stalk and training it up a pole (the way his father and grandfather taught him). No matter that I out-produce him year after year by probably 5 to 1 at least, he's not about to change his ways. Oh yeah....I might add, he's 90 years old and to be 91 in a few months. ~smile~

Hal in PA

OK, my seedlings are up to about 4 or 5 inches with at least three sets of real leaves. Did I mention that they are Homestead Tomatoes, Determinate? Well, I know they will fruit at the ends of the branches so I am not about to cut them off but what about the suckers? Do I start cutting them off now or later, when I transplant them to their final SWC's? I have about 100 seedlings but I will only be RAISING about 5 of them and will sell/give away/compost the rest. Do I remove the suckers before someone else gets the plant or do I just suggest it to them when the transfer of ownership takes place?

As explained in the FAQ here jusme - determinates aren't pruned. They don't have suckers in the usual sense of the word - those are fruit production branches. You can, if you wish, trim back some leaflet branches to a degree or remove any leaflet branches below the lowest fruit truss to prevent ground contact but removal of any others will only cost you fruit production.

Pruning of suckers, if you choose to do it, is for indeterminate variety plants. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning FAQ

digdirt:

Thank you. I thought the only pruning you DIDN'T do on a determinant was the cutting short the branches. You have enlightened me. BTW, the link was just exactly what I needed!!! Thanks again

Hugh

Thanks everybody for your opinions.

It seems to me now that pruning can make sense for indeterminant tomatoes and that is our concern.

One of the pros of pruners reason is to give the plant good air flow and therby prevent deseases. This make sense where you get a lot of rain and high humidity. Staking can partly take care of that too. Tomatoes laying down on the ground can be a problem, except where you have a dry and less rainy climat.

I personally think that there is a trade off. Too much leaves under the first fruit is a burden. Those are the older leaves that once were vital but later on they are not necessary. Most of the times they yellow. So I prune most of those.
With the so-called suckers, if the plant is healthy I keep some of them and often they bear fruits too.
one thing I have experienced is that heavy pruning make the plant grow much taller aand they live longer.

lets hear from other gardeners. I am here with open mind and ready to learn something new. I love internet that provides so much info and exchange of opinion. In the past all you could learn from were your neighbors and old uncle and things liks " I have heard..", "they say..".

My seeding do not have true leaves yet, but it is not too late (in zone 8).
Once again, Thanks and lets brainstorm over the topic.

The way I look at it if its not going to get sun on the lower suckers its just going to take up energy and be an opportunity for blight near the soil. Its really a matter of space I think as well. Since I don't have much space I find pruning to be an option. If you have lots of it then there is not as much need for it.IMHO.