Department of Horticultural Science
Horticulture Information Leaflet 8107-B
12/97
Distributed in furtherance
of the Acts of Congress
of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
Employment and program
opportunities are offered to
all people regardless of
race, color, national origin,
sex, age, or disability.
North Carolina State University,
North Carolina A&T State
University, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, and local
governments cooperating.
PRUNING AND SUPPORTING
HOME GARDEN TOMATOES
Douglas C. Sanders, Extension Horticultural Specialist
Tomato plants have two general growth
habits. It is important to know what type of
plants you have in order to space and train
them properly.
Indeterminate types are tall growi ng plants,
normally growing 5 to 8 ft tall, producing a
fruit cluster on the stems bet ween every third
leaf. Plant terminals conti nue to grow as long
as the plant is healthy. Most of our home
garden varieties in North Carolina belong to
this group. Some ofthe varieties in this group
areManapal, Better Boy, Big Boy, Fantastic,
and Cherokee.
Determinate types are shorter growing
plants, normally growing 1 to 5 ft tall,
producing a fruit cluster on stems between
each leaf, and each stem terminates in a fruit
cluster % thus, they often are called “self-
pruning” types. Some varieties inthisgroup
are Pik Red, Colonial, Mountain Delight,
Mountain Pride, Sunrise, Sunny, and Roma
VF (pear-shaped).
Indeterminate types produce a shoot or
“sucker” at each leaf axil. These suckers, if
left undisturbed, grow into larger stems and
produce fruit. This type of plant is usually
supported above ground with a stake or
trellis. A5- to 7-ft stake may be driven into
the ground and the stems tied loosely to the
stake with soft twine or cloth. Trellised
tomatoes may be handled in a similar manner,
leaving one stem for each 8 to 12 inches of
space in the row; that is, if plants are spaced
3 ft apart, leave 3 stems per plant; if plants are
spaced 2 ft apart, leave 2 stems per plant.
Break out all other suckers before they grow
to 3 inches long.
Determinate types are usually pruned only
once when suckers are 2 to 4 inches long
(later pruning reduces size). The plants are
normally spaced 1 Vi to 2 ft apart in the row.
The plant is sometimes tied to a stake. More
often, plants are supported in a weave of
strings supported by stakes. This weave
system is developed as follows: Stakes ( 1 x
2) are placed between every other plant, and
2 stakes are placed side by side at each end
of a section. These sections usually are not
more than 50 ft long. This break provides a
path to carry fruit out of the garden. When
plants are about 1 2 inches tall , the first string
is tied to the stalks at one end of a section.
Then, pulling the string as tight as possible, it
is wrapped around each stake making sure
to keep it tight (this takes practice). The
string is stretched down one side of the row
and then back up the other. When one
returns to the starting point the string is tied
again. A second string is added in a week or
two, when the tops of plants are 8 to 10
inches above the first string and before plants
begin to flopover. Usually, only 4strings are
needed to support a crop. Many people use
North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES