For you tomato guru's

[Broke Down Ranch]

So I inadvertantly tried to kill my tomatoes. Luckily for me the soil is good and the tomatoes are strong so they are trying to make a come-back. Some are getting new growth on existing "branches" while others seem to be growing whole new plants at the base of the mature plant just above soil level. My question is will it hurt to prune back old branches that are, for the most part, dead? Like on these plants that seem to be coming back from the base could I remove the top part of the plant above where the "new" plant is at? Or on the plants that are getting new growth on some of the old branches while other branches appear to be on the way out?

I would like to prune back the dead or dying stuff but not at the expense of killing the plants entirely....

 

[patandchickens]

Generally, if a plant part is fully yellowed and starting to wither/brown, you can safely remove it; if it still has some greenishness or green areas, then unless it is an active problem for the plant (diseased, or causing excessive moisture loss in a dry situation) it is probably better to leave it on a bit longer for the plant to resorb as many nutrients as possible from it.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Greensage45]

I would prune away at it. It sounds like there is nothing left to lose, and it is either downhill or uphill from here.

I often crash through my plants clumsily as I gather tomatoes. I am constantly "pruning" inadvertently, the plants never mind it and I never fret over losing an entire branch to my tramplings.

I would, however, suggest that if there is a 'good' portion that you are removing, or if there is a 'good' section you accidentally break, then simply put that branch in some water in a vase and in less than a few days you will have roots appearing. Once the roots reach an inch or so then just pop the plant into soil (pot or ground) and it will take off. This is if the ground temperature is like it is in the summer months.

This is what folk do when they want to clone their favorite tomatoes from season to season. They will take all the nicest tops from the plants prior to the first frost. They root them in the house and then plant them in 1 gallon containers in a cool garage with reduced water. This keeps them from growing too fast and then come Spring they can be placed in the ground and they are a true continuation of the previous seasons plants; clones. (not to be done to inferior plants).

Anyways, go ahead, seems there is nothing to lose. If you need to replace your plants now for a Fall crop of tomatoes you should get some clones from either friends or neighbors who have a good stand of plants. I certainly would not mind someone asking me for some tops of my plants, especially when they are monsters like they are now.

Goodluck, Ron

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

Well, I got brave and decided to prune the tomato plants. Some I was able to leave quite a bit of old branches with new growth, a few I cut everything off except for what's coming in new at the very base of the stalk. I figured the new stuff coming on would have a better chance if the plant wasn't wasting energy trying to get nutrients down a L-O-N-G branch with a handful of new leaves at the end, thus could focus more on the new stronger growth at the base. And I must say the plants I trimmed yesterday already look greener and healthier. It's just so flippin' hot out there.....

 

[obsessed]

I did some tomato transplants for the fall season. The transplants I got were from the nursery were pretty big about 2-3 feet tall/long. After transplanting they did bad almost shriveled up and died. So I hedged them pretty good. Hopefully I can get them growing again