Should you prune your cherry tomato plants? Indeterminate cherry tomatoes thrive, and pruning can help manage their growth. It improves airflow, keeps the plant dry, and reduces the risk of fungal diseases. Pruning also allows more sunlight to reach the cherry tomato clusters, leading to quicker ripening and better flavor. Regularly picking ripe tomatoes encourages the plant to produce more flowers. If left unpruned, cherry tomato plants can become tall and may break under their own weight. To prune them, leave the main stem and 1-2 suckers (side shoots) for optimal results, and regularly remove new suckers to prevent overcrowding. Start pruning from the day you transplant seedlings into the ground and be consistent throughout the growing season.

On the other hand, some gardeners argue that cherry tomatoes don’t need pruning because even unpruned plants can be productive. Unlike larger slicing tomatoes, cherry tomato suckers don’t significantly affect fruit production. But it’s essential to consider spacing and disease prevention, as unpruned cherry tomato plants can create a dense jungle if planted close together, trapping moisture and encouraging diseases like blight. It’s also worth noting that determinate cherry tomatoes and dwarf varieties don’t benefit from pruning, as these types have a predetermined size and fruiting period.

In summary, a moderate approach to pruning can significantly improve the health of plants, yield better fruit, and ease of management when growing indeterminate cherry tomatoes. However, cherry tomatoes can still thrive without extensive pruning if you prefer a more hands-off approach.

Image: AI-Generated
Prompt/edited: Tom Myrick
Written by: Tom Myrick

Writer/Digital creator/Prompt designer: Tom Myrick

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