Grow double the tomato plants in half the space with single stem pruning. I’ll teach you how to get stronger, healthier plants, for more tomatoes to harvest (not just leaves) – this technique is a game changer!
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SUPPLIES USED IN THIS VIDEO:
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➡Precision pruners: https://amzn.to/3RpblKm
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WATCH THESE VIDEOS FOR MORE TOMATO TIPS:
https://bit.ly/CaliKimTomatoStringTrellis
https://bit.ly/CaliKimTomatoMistakes
https://bit.ly/CaliKimSuperchargeTomatoes
https://bit.ly/CaliKim5SecretsToGrowTomatoesInContainers
https://bit.ly/CaliKimJuneMustPlantVegetables
TABLE OF CONTENTS: (click the time stamp to re-watch your favorite part of the video)
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Benefits of single stem pruning
01:26 Step 1: Plant tomatoes on a string trellis/sturdy tall stake
02:07 Step 2: Identify the main stem
03:08 Step 3: Prune lower branches and suckers
07:38 Step 4: Support stem with clips
08:40 Step 5: Prune & clip weekly
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21 Comments
Are you single stemming your tomatoes?! Thanks for gardening with us! -CaliKim & CameraGuy
➡30% off CaliKim Seed Collections, CK Smart Pots and garden kits with code “DAD”, https://calikimgardenandhome.com. Ends 6.18.24.
➡June “Sizzling’ Summer Salad Station” Grow Your Groceries with CaliKim Connect+ Subscription Box: $20 off 1st box w/code “CONNECTJUNE”: https://bit.ly/CaliKimGrowYourGroceriesConnectPlusSubscriptionBox.
Includes heat tolerant leafy green seeds, seed starting containers, soil, self-watering stake, and FREE canister of Monterey Lawn and Garden Sluggo Plus ($20 value). Available for limited time only. Visit monterylawngarden.com for pest and disease control products.
Would the pruning techniques only be beneficial for "indeterminate" varieties rather than "determinate?" Since determinate tomato plants have a shorter lifespan?
So good kim how do u when to harvest a tomato 🍅🍅🍅🍅
I did decide to try this, I started a couple sun gold suckers and am doing it with those. I want to figure something else out be sides tomato cages every year I say these are worthless Lol maybe cattle panels. any way your are looking real nice.
Yes, trying it this year as well. The last 2 years have not been good (especially last year) for my tomato plants. I got huge plants but no production. Hoping for a better year this year!
I single stemmed the last two years, but decided to cage this year.
I may need to plant four more and single stem to compare yield.
I gave up on my indeterminate tomato plant.
First, it's too hot here in Florida, and 2nd something is eating the blossoms. I've sprayed, used diatomaceous Earth, and neam oil and I don't see on caterpillar. It's over 6 ft tall. Think I'll try bush later in the season.
Great tips as always
I am trying this method this year, too
The title of your excerpt and description doesn't say it's an indeterminate tomato. I would have liked to know that from the beginning, instead of once at 1:40.
What do you do when "fan leafs" (as you mentioned in the video) grow downwards towards the ground? Should they be removed or is it growing that way to either shade or be exposed to the sun?
I am currently dealing with tomato plant issues I have never seen before with Paul Robeson Tomatoes. This is the first time I've tried growing them. I don't know if they are just extremely sensitive or I got a batch of defective seeds. They seemed to do fine germinating as seedlings under grow lights and heat mats. After transplanting they were O.K. They continued to grow (except the leaves all pointed downwards). They even flowered and began growing fruit. Then the leaves in sections of the plant would wilt and dry up forming a black outline along the edges of the leaves. I should say. my other tomatoes so far (Sun Gold and Cherokee Purple) growing right next to these pathetic looking plants look great. I haven't been seeing any yellowing of leaves or spots on the Paul Robesons. The stems look a little bruised but that is all.
Have you Kim, or any of your community seen this with any of their tomatoes? Are there certain varieties that are EXTREMELY SENSITIVE like Paul Robeson? I know I'm not the only one because the reviews of the Paul Robeson Tomatoes on the Baker Creek website included a review from last summer where a customer, like myself, had the same experience with these seeds. So to make a long story longer, in general, is it a good idea to prune down growing leaves from tomato plants no mater the variety? Also are there certain varieties notorious for dying when having to deal with less than perfect conditions?
Awesome! Thanks!
Single stemming has a lot of benefits. Yes, you may lose production, but this can be offset with the ability to plant more tomato plants in a smaller space. I'd say if your area is prone to diseases and pests, single stem them. Not only will it make those issues easier to manage, it just makes maintaining and harvesting tomatoes so much easier, because an unmanaged indeterminate tomato can grow into an absolute mess of tangled branches and fruit clusters.
One day, I’ll be brave enough to try it! I just ate one of my golden jubilee today in a salad, I cut it up into about eight different pieces and it was so juicy and delightful!
I'm definitely going to try it and I'm looking forward to a great harvest ❤
I did the single stem on my tomato plants , and they look great.
CaliKim, I have a Sicily tomato that I never grew before. It's real low to the soil, and full of tomatoes, so I don't know how to trim it.
Love Max❤
Seeing Mac made me really happy 🐶🥰
I can use this method in my small subdivision yard! Now that I know how to start from seed I can have an assembly line! All my tomatoes are indeterminate so I shall trim the suckas. 🍅
I like this. I have a few containers of tomatoes and they really tend to get very bushy. This will keep them neat and productive. Thanks much🎉🎉
🌺Aloha, we just about completed our video on the string method. We used whatever we had on hand and made the trellis in a large growing container. We'll be adjusting ours since we are not using the string on the roll release method. J. Prigioni (The Gardening Channel) showed this method on one of his tomato videos. I hope it works, since I haven't grown indeterminate since my first year of gardening . I couldn't keep up with the growth. See you in tomorrow's class connect for more tomato info.👏♥
I'm seeing more and more gardeners using this technique so now I must try it too. Will experiment on a Sungold but wonder if there are any special considerations (like keeping more sun leaves) for larger fruit like a Jet Star or Romano or even a Beefsteak? Can't wait to see how yours develop, thanks for the inspiration CK.
I appreciate the demonstration of pruning in various scenarios. Nice of your plants to provide the opportunity. Great video. I am trying this method this year.