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Growing Tomatoes

Husky Cherry Red - to prune or not to prune?

6 years ago

I am growing a variety of tomatoes in containers this year - two indeterminate, two determinate, and a Husky Cherry Red - which i understand to be a "dwarf indeterminate". Basically, the stem lengths between the parts of the plant (leaves, flowers, suckers) is all very short, in addition to the overall plant being dwarfed. I heard a standard tomato cage is sufficient as support, so it's wearing one of those.

The plant is happy and vigorously growing - but i don't know if i should be pruning like an indeterminate, or leaving alone like a determinate. I went ahead and removed the sucker below the first fruit cluster, but do I do any more than that?

The plant is VERY compact and bushy - I worry the growth is so squished together that there will be ventilation-issues or disease. But i don't want to give up any fruit if i should be leaving the growth in place.

Could someone who has grown Husky Cherry red before let me know whether it will need any pruning under normal conditions?

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Comments (2)

farmerdill
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
None of the Husky series were designed to be pruned. They are very stiff upright bushy plants, whose main claim to fame is their compactness and rigidity. Very popular in the 90's for that trait.
digdirt2
6 years ago
"but i don't know if i should be pruning like an indeterminate, or leaving alone like a determinate"

Agree that one shouldn't prune any of the Huskies. But your statement above implies that indeterminates must be pruned and that is not so. Pruning indeterminate varieties is a personal choice, merely an option relevant to space and support. It is not required for any reason and many growers never prune their tomato plants regardless of the type.

Dave
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