Trimming tomato plants?

*kermie*

I have 4 tomato plants that are over 5 feet tall!  They've gone crazy!  They're far beyond the cage I have them in.  We've had two very bad storms here in the past week with 60mph winds.  None of the tomato plants broke (oddly, since we lost 3 trees on our property!) but everything that stood above the cage is bent over and weak.  There are a ton of blooms on them so I hate to lose those tomatoes but they're hanging all over and aren't in place that would be easy to throw up a couple of stakes to tie them to.

So my question is, can I trim those hanging branches off?  Or will it kill the plant?  Thanks!

Lady*Timot

I would trim from the bottom first.  Once you cut off the top two branches you will no longer get any more height. (at least that's what some very nice nuns told me)  That said if you trim up the top it will then divert to the fruit you have under it instead of height. (so if they are tall enough for you..then you can trim them and then you'll have all the fruit under).

I went through and trimmed up the bottom (you can go up to a foot or so off the bottom.) I cut off all branches and leaves that didn't have any buds or flowers.  The next day my tomatoes exploded with fruit. 

 

If you are asking if it will kill the plant,no it won't.

eb629

I just did a massive trimming of the bottoms of all my plants on that parts that were non-fruit bearing leaves. I do it every year, and it doesn't hurt the plant.. probably actually helps focus the energy on the fruit!