Should I prune? (Clueless)

[cf]

I've tried to find articles that would answer whether I should be pruning or shaping, and I just get more confused as I read.  When all else fails, ask for directions.

Meet my two AGs, the tom, basil and dill were all planted 12/10 (34 days ago).  I used AG pod-baskets, the tom is labelled "Heirloom Cherry Tomato."

Friend said remove "suckers" (article described that as a new stem sprouting at or near junction point of main stem and existing branch). I found 4 at very early stages of growth and cut them off.  But something said stop there.

How do I treat this baby now, and as it progresses?  I started a second one last week (back rightmost position so they're as far apart as one Harvest can make them).  

Should I be cutting back some of these leaves?  Shaping the plant?  Pinching off new leaf sets sitting on top of existing bigger leaf sets?  I'm completely boggled by this tomato plant. 

And I would super much appreciate guidance as to what I should do for it, at least at this stage. 

For perspective of its overall relative size...

And a bit more focused on just the tom plant...

[clumsythumbs]

Others may have better and more nuanced advice. I have only grow tomatoes in the AG a few times (and only once for the full life of it), but was the same pod (Heirloom Tomato). I did very little "shaping" or pruning early on. Per the AG instructions, they say when it gets to 5 sets up true leaves/branches, you can top it. Some do, some don't. My thought is at this stage, you do not need to do anything. Topping it (when it gets to that stage; AG says around 6 weeks I think) would make it more bushy and compact rather than tall. I found that pod to be very short and compact...and I did not top. Once it got going, I did prune and clean it up as it a) starting to creep in the way of other plants, b) overhung the deck, c) leaves browned, or d) areas where fruit or flowers were growing were getting too crowded. 

You can see my attempt here. If I had topped early or trimmed more to delay fruit, maybe I would have gotten more...not sure. After a few months I had to go out of town for weeks/a month and transplanted to some pots and gifted to a friend. I had planted it late Feb of 2019 and the plant survived the summer heat and made it's way back to me then had a late summer/early Fall 3rd round of fruit. Had I had the capacity then to bring it inside and put under lights, it probably could have gone into November, but I terminated in late October of 2019. 

So, long story short, my advice at this stage is to sit back and enjoy and watch. Once it gets bigger you can start to prune/shape.  

[Sher]

I agree with clumsythumbs. I have always topped my tomatoes and peppers, but I don't think it's necessary if height is not an issue.

I think the advice to prune off tomato suckers is for the indeterminate vining varieties. On our small determinate varieties, you are probably cutting off future fruit bearing potential.

As the plant grows and branches more than 2" out of the hood, if you prune off the protruding limb, it will put energy into new growth on the other side.

Also, if a big leaf is cutting off light to the ones underneath it, it needs to go.

I don't know any hard and fast rules. Just watch your plants and don't let them get so clumped that light can't penetrate the lower layers and air can't circulate.

[cf]

Oh, thank you both! That is a lot of really good information. After reading a bunch and getting frustrated because it raised more questions than it answered, this actually finally gives me a definite feel for how to work with these. And I will check out that link. Thankie thankie!

[clumsythumbs]

Jan 14, 2021 13:39:42 GMT -5 cf said:

Oh, thank you both! That is a lot of really good information. After reading a bunch and getting frustrated because it raised more questions than it answered, this actually finally gives me a definite feel for how to work with these. And I will check out that link. Thankie thankie!

cf , I know the feeling! I often feel the more I research, the more questions and confusions I have! I often feel like I a supposed to be doing "more". At the early stages for longer growing projects, I think just watching what is happening can be fun. It is also a learning experience. By documenting what you are doing here, if, for some reason, you find something you did (or did not do) was not ideal, you can always tweak the next time around. Additionally, any definitive "you must do this" type of advice from internet sources I would take with a grain of salt. Those who make videos and/or write articles want to garner traffic and interest, so the "10 things you are doing to kill your hydroponic tomatoes!" type of stuff often is more trouble than useful. 

Perusing other members' gardens have been really helpful for the early stages of a new project, especially something you have not grown before. Tomatoes seem to be pretty forgiving and the AG heirloom kit is a great one. I really loved the tomatoes mine produced. 

[lizbleu]

I am right here with you. I read the very helpful resources here, however my plant is now in the mature stage. I have teeny fruit growing! I use the Be the Bee pollinator brush but they grew quick. Hardly took anything! Here’s a pic:
flic.kr/p/2kFXLZH

[Shawn]

It looks good lizbleu.  Keep doing what you are doing!

[Sher]

Tomatoes on the way! They look great!

[cf]

Yay! Just out of curiosity, lizbleu, how many days from when you planted the tomato to when you saw first flowers? And then first infant tomato?

[lizbleu]

I don’t recall exactly- will document more next time, just for myself- so roughly: I put in the tomato pod probably a little over a month ago. The flowers emerged and around a week, I’d say, I noticed the first tomatoes. I literally started using the Bee pollinator toothbrush and wondered if it was often enough, then did a couple of days in a row when I noticed the teeny little green tomatoes there. They doubled in size in just a day or so when I took the picture.

Mar 4, 2021 12:49:44 GMT -5 cf said:

Yay! Just out of curiosity, lizbleu, how many days from when you planted the tomato to when you saw first flowers? And then first infant tomato?

[cf]

Mar 5, 2021 19:00:29 GMT -5 lizbleu said:

I don’t recall exactly- will document more next time, just for myself- so roughly: I put in the tomato pod probably a little over a month ago. The flowers emerged and around a week, I’d say, I noticed the first tomatoes. I literally started using the Bee pollinator toothbrush and wondered if it was often enough, then did a couple of days in a row when I noticed the teeny little green tomatoes there. They doubled in size in just a day or so when I took the picture.

[

Now that seems amazingly fast! That whole progression. Tomatoes on steroids!

[lizbleu]

“cf” (Trying to tag vs quote- let’s see if it works.)

🤣🤣🙂You are probably right- my sense of time is warped. It flies! I probably put the pod in closer to mid-late Jan. And it probably took more time to get flowers than I recollect. But seriously from flowers to tomatoes was super quick. When I first spotted them, they were so tiny, like the head of a pin almost. So doubled in size didn’t take much, 😆.

[lizbleu]

cf
Here’s a picture of the newest littlest tomatoes. That’s the initial size, which do the zoom, looks bigger, as do the others. I am going to try to find them when they are just fruiting. See how little I can see. In the outdoor garden, I never caught them this small, so this is cool!
flic.kr/p/2kHnAwh
flic.kr/p/2kHnDbv
flic.kr/p/2kHiZTT

[Sher]

Baby tomatoes are so cute! Always a cause for celebration, and it never gets old.

[Shawn]

Looking good and you have a lot of them.