mhpgardener | Extreme Tomato Pruning - Something Had to be Done @mhpgardener | Uploaded November 2012 | Updated October 2024, 1 week ago.
I was having a serious problem with Leaf Mold on my tomatoes. The foliage was just too thick for me to get good coverage by spraying a fungicide. I remembered reading an article about people who pruned their tomato plants back to just 2-3 leaves. Supposedly their plants did fine. The Leaf Mold was spreading from the bottom leaves upward. I decided to go above all of the affected leaves to where there was no mold and begin pruning. I removed all of the leaves from that point to the bottom.
Here is a link to more info about Leaf Mold.. negreenhouseupdate.info/index.php/diseases/398
When I finished, the plants looked naked. I didn't know what to make of the situation, but I felt like something had to be done. I wasn't going to sit back and let Leaf Mold continue to take over. After about 2 1/2 weeks, the plants have responded very well. The growth tips have really bushed out and the tomatoes are rapidly increasing in size. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this type of extreme pruning, but sometimes you do what you gotta do. :)
I was having a serious problem with Leaf Mold on my tomatoes. The foliage was just too thick for me to get good coverage by spraying a fungicide. I remembered reading an article about people who pruned their tomato plants back to just 2-3 leaves. Supposedly their plants did fine. The Leaf Mold was spreading from the bottom leaves upward. I decided to go above all of the affected leaves to where there was no mold and begin pruning. I removed all of the leaves from that point to the bottom.
Here is a link to more info about Leaf Mold.. negreenhouseupdate.info/index.php/diseases/398
When I finished, the plants looked naked. I didn't know what to make of the situation, but I felt like something had to be done. I wasn't going to sit back and let Leaf Mold continue to take over. After about 2 1/2 weeks, the plants have responded very well. The growth tips have really bushed out and the tomatoes are rapidly increasing in size. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this type of extreme pruning, but sometimes you do what you gotta do. :)
