Skinning tomatoes: the correct way to remove the leaves

Pruning tomato plants is a controversial issue among gardeners. We reveal when it makes sense to exhaust your tomatoes and how to do it correctly.

There is seldom a topic that divides tomato lovers as much as pruning the side shoots. Some advocate consistent stinginess, always and with every plant, others just let their tomatoes grow wild. In this article, we want to explain to you that skipping is not just a question of faith, but has real advantages and disadvantages. We explain how the stinging instincts arise and explain step by step the correct procedure for pruning.

Do you have to skim tomatoes?

Whether or not you have to skim tomatoes depends on the variety, the location and the space available. We will therefore show you in detail which plants should be skimmed and why.

Do you have to exhaust all tomatoes?

The simple answer is no. Basically only tomatoes should be skimmed if it makes sense. The side shoots should be removed from all large-fruited tomato varieties such as oxheart and beefsteak tomatoes. Even with medium-sized stick tomatoes, a maximum of two to three shoots including the main shoot should be left.

Which tomatoes shouldn't be skimmed?

Low-growing bush tomatoes and wild tomatoes are not stripped at all. They bear flowers on all side shoots and thus fruit again. The yield is highest without pricking. The small-fruited cocktail and cherry tomatoes can either be allowed to grow sprawling or they can be grown with several shoots. It is therefore optional for these tomatoes to be dried out.

How do the many side shoots arise?

Wild tomatoes from South America grow and grow naturally from all leaf axils, because they lie on the ground and over time form a multi-branched shrub. Our cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) became from the ranks of these diverse wild tomatoes (Solanum sp.), but still has strong similarities with their wild relatives. In addition, tomatoes that have been planted in corners that are too dark or that have been fertilized too heavily with nitrogen tend to develop side shoots and less to develop flowers. The planting location should therefore be flooded with light as possible in order to get more fruits instead of side shoots. You can prevent excessive nitrogen use with balanced, mainly organic organic fertilizers with long-term effects like ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. The even and long-term release of nutrients does not lead to a deficiency or excess, but rather supplies the tomato plant in a balanced and soil-friendly manner.

Advantages of skimming tomatoes

Skimmed tomatoes have a number of advantages. First of all, with beefsteak tomatoes, side shoots are prevented from attaching large, heavy fruits that they cannot bear, so that they tear off or bend over. The quality of the fruits is then usually better, they taste more aromatic because the plant has to supply less fruits. In addition, the plant is encouraged to concentrate more on fruit formation and stem growth straight upwards. The plants become longer, but remain narrow and require less space. Another advantage is that the plants with fewer side shoots or without them are more airy and dry off better after the rain. This makes it harder for fungal diseases to spread.

Tip: You can make a fortifying tomato manure from the stripped side shoots, with which the plants are then watered. The production and fertilization takes place as with Nettle manure in a ratio of 1:20.

All advantages again at a glance:

• Prevents the thinner side shoots from kinking and tearing off large tomatoes
• The quality of the fruit is usually better
• Plants are stimulated to grow in length and to produce fruit on the other shoots
• Less space required in the width and better ventilation of the plants
• Broken shoots can be fermented into plant-strengthening tomato manure

Disadvantages of skimming tomatoes

But of course there are not only advantages, otherwise the topic would not be so controversial. First of all, it should only be maxed out if it makes sense - and it is not always. Stripped plants tend to grow longer, they become very tall and are not very stable. A light gust of wind can knock it over or kink it. Therefore, exhausted tomatoes must always be well supported or tied up.
A major disadvantage is that pruning leaves the plant with wounds, which are the entry points for pathogens. This means stress for the tomato plants, because they have to close the wounds quickly and fight any pathogens. In addition, the regular pruning means a lot of time and has to be repeated about every two weeks, depending on the vigor of the varieties. For beginners among tomato growers, it is not at all easy to distinguish between the shoot tip and side shoots at the beginning. There is a risk here that the fruit-bearing tip will be removed and the plant will have to switch to the more unstable side shoot.

The disadvantages of removing tomatoes at a glance:

• Not useful for every type of tomato
• Ties and supports are essential as the plants are unstable
• Pricking leaves wounds and makes it easier for pathogens to penetrate
• Pickling is time-consuming and has to be repeated every two to three weeks
• It is difficult for beginners to distinguish between the main shoot and the side shoot

Instructions for pruning tomatoes

The best time to start pruning depends on the planting date. Ideally, you start with skimming immediately after planting, i.e. in early May in the greenhouse or in mid-May outdoors, and end in autumn.
It is best to skim your tomatoes in the morning, because the wounds dry off quickly during the day. Wear gloves, after all, tomato shoots leave sticky green stains on your hands.

How do you differentiate the stingy instincts from the main instincts? The stingy shoots of tomatoes always arise in the leaf axils of leaves that are already large. They grow away from the main shoot at a 45-degree angle and are still thin and elastic. If you check all the leaf axils of the tomato plant from top to bottom, you won't miss any of them in a hurry. These side shoots are removed and either deep down on the stem with your fingernails between your thumbs and forefinger cut off or better still with a sharp knife or clean secateurs cut off. Make sure that the cut is smooth and that the main shoot is not damaged. Small shoots can also be broken out, because they can still be easily detached from the leaf axil in which they are located.

Tip: When watering, make sure that the wounds do not get wet in the first few days after the skimming, otherwise the risk of infection increases.

Summary tomato skimming:

• Skimming in the morning allows the wounds to dry well during the day
• Use gloves to avoid green spots
• Check all leaf axils from top to bottom
• Break out or pinch off small side shoots with your fingers, cut off larger ones better
• Keep the wound areas dry when watering
• Repeat about every two weeks, depending on growth

Correctly seared different tomatoes

Skimmed cocktail tomatoes

Cocktail tomatoes form small fruits and therefore only need to be skimmed to a limited extent. Because the side shoots usually form flowers and fruits quickly, which can also be borne well by the thinner side shoots. But in order not to get an obscure and poorly ventilated plant, it is worth removing a few shoots. With the cocktail tomato, if there is enough space, two to three lower side shoots are left next to the main shoot. So it is brought up with multiple instincts. These shoots develop flowers and fruits, all higher lying stinging shoots along the main shoot are removed.

Skimmed bush tomatoes

Under no circumstances should bush tomatoes be exhausted! The practical bush tomatoes usually only reach a maximum height of one meter. They branch out strongly and bear fruit on the side shoots. When you pinch out the side shoots, you are taking out much of the fruit this plant would have borne.

Skimmed tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes

When it comes to medium-sized stick tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes weighing up to a kilogram, there are very different opinions about preening. Stick tomatoes can usually be grown with one or two low-lying side shoots without any problems, all side shoots above are removed consistently. The lower shoots give the plant stability, where they also bear fruit. In the case of beefsteak tomatoes, on the other hand, one leaves at most one side branch next to the main branch and binds both well together. Alternatively, you consistently remove all stingy shoots and only let the main shoot grow upwards. Otherwise, the heavy fruits overwhelm many thin side shoots and kink easily.

Valuable Tips for the perfect tomato in your garden, see our special article.