Just about every tomato variety out there loves to branch out like crazy as it grows. But if you want a massive harvest of juicy fruit instead of just a giant bush of leaves, you’ll want to keep up with “suckering” your cherry tomatoes. Here’s the lowdown on how to do it right!
All You Need Are Your Fingers
Once you’ve planted your cherry tomatoes in the garden or a patio pot, they really start to take off. As they grow, you’ll notice tons of new little shoots popping up. Many of these are actually unnecessary and end up draining the plant’s energy.
To help your plant focus that energy on growing delicious tomatoes rather than just more greenery, it’s best to pinch off these “suckers.” All it takes is a quick eye and two fingers. Here’s the play-by-play:
- Look for the small side shoots growing in the “armpit” (the crotch between the main stem and a leaf branch).
- When they’re about one to two inches long, just pinch them between your fingers and snap them sideways.
- Pro tip: Do this in the early morning so the “wound” has all day to dry out and heal in the sun.
If you miss one and it gets pretty long, don’t snap it off—that could leave a big tear on the main stem. Instead, just snip off the growing tip of that sucker to stop it in its tracks.
When You Can Skip the Pruning
If your cherry tomatoes have plenty of room to spread out on a large trellis or fence, you don’t necessarily *have* to prune them. You just need to make sure you’re tying the branches to the support regularly so they don’t snap under their own weight. As long as the plant is spread out enough for sunlight to reach every part, it’ll keep producing flowers and fruit. Just make sure if you’re growing them this way in a container, you’re using a large pot (at least 3 gallons) to give the roots enough room to power all that growth!
