I had this argument about pruning tomatoes with others. Last year, we all decided to settle it once and for all. We each grew a plant OUR way. One pruned radically, one moderately and one not at all. They all fruited OK but the moderately pruned one did best of all because sir could circulate and plant energy was not wasted. The unpruned one sprawled on the dirt and got diseased and eaten by insects. The radically pruned one was staked and just kept growing upwards. It produced not as much as the others but it was nice fruit. However, fierce sun burnt it
Your experiment had a flaw in that you didn't support the unpruned plant. Had the other two plants been in contact with the soil, they too would have similar disease and insect damage.
For indeterminate tomatoes, I prune to ensure airflow, remove unnecessary leaves (takes away from fuller, robust fruit), and avoid excessive sprawl. I keep the plants off the ground. My early girls grow 8-10 feet tall but produce buckets. The plants are 2 feet apart. So...this year, for example, one plant has 22 tomatoes developing in the first foot and a half of growth. I control suckers to prevent sprawl but suckers are very productive. I get 3-4 large harvests each year in California. If you do the math that is 66-100 tomatoes per plant. Single stem planting does not ring true for me since I focus on quantity and quality. The idea of planting other veggies between tomatoes doesn't work for my way of growing except in the first month and a half of growth as the plants are small. For determinate plants i prune to ensure airflow focusing on the energy-sapping leaves. Some suckers need to be removed but seldom. Given California's weather I'm able to get a second surge of growth from some of the determinate plants like ace. As always fertilize, keep the calcium and phosphorous feeding on schedule and periodic deep watering is critical. Stressing the tomatoes is not part of my philosophy of growing tomatoes since I moderate watering diligently. Oh, the airflow requirement also ensure access by beneficial insects -- the bumblebees and carpenter bees are my best tomato pollinators. Tomatoes take a lot of work but the end result for canners, salsa makers, and salad lovers is exceptionally satisfying and delicious. Thanks for this video.
I think the real secret is just prune anything that touches the ground. If it really gets too thick prune off some leaves for airflow since you're likely artificially preventing it from spreading out. It's not too difficult to get great results. Hardly pruned anything but diseased leaves off 4 plants last summer just to see. They got primo sun and it was ridiculous how much they produced.
I've been growing tomatoes for 20 years. I prune every leaf below the flowers once a week it increases food to the tomatoes they grow bigger and healthier. I average 12 to 18kg per plant. Last year I got 170kg from 10 plants. My cherry tomatoes do the same and got buckets full from 5 plants
Hi, when you say "every leaf below the flowers" do you mean for the entire plant or just that stem? Are you in Australia? If so what do you do for fruit fly, they damaged most of my tomatoes here in queensland last summer.
Mark, I can't watch as often as I'd like, but I watch when I can. Every time I check in on you, I find that your channel has grown by leaps and bounds. Every time. I remember when you were questioning your YT presence at about 22k subs. Look at you now. I'm so proud of you! Great info on tomatoes. My mouth was watering at the sight of those beautiful cherry toms. Have one for me. ~ Lisa
This should be required viewing for gardeners; I seriously learned more in this short video about Tomato than hours of research and BS tutorials. Mahalo!!
When I pruned my tomatoes I put the pruned branches in a solo cup with potting soil.in 7 days they were full of roots.i planted them an have many new plants.
Mark Pang tip. Put small amount of water soluble fertiliser in a container with water. Place the potted cutting in the water leaving an inch or two clearance for root growth. If it gets cold use clear plastic wrap and a container large enough to support leaf growth under the plastic
This channel is has been one of the best inspirations for my small family farm. Thank you, first of all for your service to your country (Vet here myself) and also for all that you do on your home and allowing all of us to see. I also have designed and built my raised beds gathering ideas from your designs and am hoping to build a tomato tunnel similar your gourdes. Thanks again !
G'day Tony and thank you for your service! I'm glad you've been able to get some ideas from my vids and adapt them to your own property. Best of luck with your tomato tunnel - it's a great way to grow them! Thanks for taking the time to say hello mate, cheers :)
I was watching a guy's video last week with bushy tomatoes and he would cut at least 60% of the plant away. Was tough to watch, but I guess it works for him. I only trim the bushy ones when the branches get small or yellow or when they grow into another plants space.
Yes true, I'm guilty of breaking so-called gardening rules all the time and I wouldn't criticise someone's gardening technique especially if what they do works well for them. I encourage everyone to listen and learn as much as they can from others but in the end, have fun experimenting in the garden and build your own knowledge through experience. Cheers :)
Wrote this long deliberate comment about how much appreciate channels with homesteading and self-sufficiency.. turned into a rant. I guess all I really need to say is: Huge thanks for sharing, truly.
Your videos feel so stable and refreshing. Not tons of editing, random clipping bits, or any of the nonsense of today's common. Just a long winded, in a good way, discussion on how you go about it. It's nice to click a video and know it's exactly what expected all the way through. The bit of knowledge I pick up here and there is a bonus on that. Good on you for being true to your community
2 things in life you cannot buy. True love and home grown tomatoes. Love the channel. Trying to keep the larger variety going in my poly-greenhouse, here in Ipswich, over winter
They also seem less prone to weather events - they don't split if not watered regularly, don't seem to get so many diseases. I guess being smaller, they don't need so long to ripen ... ?
@@Randemoller Awww,nobody answered you! I hope it survived! I'm no gardener of the world but I do have plants that somehow are okay,and I would say go over everyday and get close,then speak reassuringly and ever so lovingly tell it you will do all you can to make sure it has everything it ever needs to thrive beauitfully! Hey it can't hurt!
This is seriously one of my favorite channels on TH-cam currently! You do an amazing job. Thank you so much for your guidance and knowledge! Cheers from Washington state!
I found a dozen tomato plants in the back lawn, growing via giving the dogs tomato as snacks. You inspired me to pot a couple and keep looking after them. So far so good! Hopefully I'll get some tasty fresh fruit one day :)
When I was a kid there was a Pizzeria near my Grandmother's house, they tossed veggies out the back door and tomatoes were popping up. With our hands we siblings dug some up and transplanted them in her back yard, the were very prodigious.
Belynda Young great idea, think it behooves everyone to start their victory gardens too. Started last year and we are doubling our gardens next weekend. Can’t wait to get planting, so exciting to get growing! Good luck in your gardening efforts.
Very helpful as always. I've grown tomatoes "by the seat of my pants" in the past. They turned out pretty good but this year I decided to learn more about how to grow them better. Thanks so much!
I've been gardening for years my tomatoe plants are doing a lot better now after watching your videos . Even one of your previous videos I thought I might have been one of the only ones growing tomatoes in winter because there are less fruit flies which I discovered about a few years ago especially growing them in south east Queensland , I was over the moon when you were doing the same bloody brilliant mate
This is my favorite new channel. You're approaching this scientifically for the benefit of the rest of us gardeners. As a first-time 🍅 plant grower (on my apartment balcony), I greatly appreciate your efforts. Subscribed!
@@tonystephengrayson hey! They ended up getting blossom end rot but a few were viable and they tasted very good. I would do a sweeter variety than San Marzano next time though. The other plants (peppers, strawberries, herbs) did great! I recommend some kind of mulch if you're in a dry climate. In Colorado, mine just CHUGGED water twice a day. Edit: definitely get a tomato cage cone thing!
@@musa2775 thanks for replying. I'm trying sun gold, and rubylicious. Also tumbling tom. Throwing myself in the deep end i know🤣 I'll be caging 2 and growing 2 as single cordons to see the difference. I live in London, so the weather is hit and miss. I will definitely use mulch👍
As a novice gardener, I thank you for the focused info about pruning or not pruning tomato plants. So much to learn about gardening.... focused info makes it easier.
Mark ... Great video. Though I don't have tomatoes this year ...I have had them in the past. I agree 100% Determinate should be left alone. Though the pruning at least a foot from the base is always a good idea to keep dessease at bay. Always enjoy watching your channel.
Mark you are amazing, we have spent the last two years into retirement following your example. Ex military we had not before had time to discover the earth. Great videos and great presentation., look forward to more...!
Thanks Mark! I’m growing my first veggie patch because of your videos :) I’ve grown tommy toe tomatoes and am about to go and prune the small suckers off.
I just pulled an old dresser out of the trash. I'm going to convert it into a raised bed. Even if it only lasts 2-3 season, that's ok with me. Besides, it was FREE!!
Man, The action music when you were pruning the tomato plants had so much suspense! Thank you for for such an action packed video. I learned lots. Before my path to tomato growing had no potential. Now I have enough confidence to become a tomato grower.
I love this video ( and all your videos!) . So many people want to give a "absolute" on pruning, only leave ONE leader, cut out ALL extra shoots, and I'm left wondering, why? Seems like 3 leaders would do better... You give the analysis of the how, why, and when and how all of that pertains to the type of tomato -- and when to break the rules! That's gardening! Excellent work! I"m growing Kratky hydroponically in my living room, and I need the reasons for something, then I can adjust that to my situation - so I can have cherry tomatoes all year long. YOU have taken gardening and put it back into my life in spite of me now being in an apartment and not having a yard. There is nothing in the world better than growing something from seed to maturitiy and plucking your own produce as you want! Thank you so much!
They are delightful Jessica! Tonight, I made an Asian style soup (light chicken broth with noodles) and I added about 20 of these tomatoes whole with some chopped chillie and garlic chives plus a little grated ginger and baby bok choy leaves OMG the tomatoes gave an amazing acidic hit as they popped in the mouth and it complemented the dish perfectly. Cheers :)
I watch everyone of your videos. I also live in SE QLD and so all your videos are relevant to me and my gardening. The thing I would love is (perhaps) a weekly video, or list of what vegies you are planting, so I can have an idea of what is great to plant and when. Ta Mark
I live in the desert 🌵 of Phoenix Arizona. I planted some of those root stock cherry tomatoes once 3 years ago and the last two years they have been popping up all over my yard and garden in late December and early January. This year I had one come up in the middle of my desert rock landscaping and it gave fruit. No water 💦 fertilizer, or care of any kind and it gave fruit until I pulled it last week. As time passes the fruit just got smaller and smaller. I left about four of the plants to grow under my lemon 🍋 tree and they are still producing fruit. I made some delicious tomato jam with a couple pounds of them. They are such a hardy plant.
I just had the most delicious little snack cucumber from my garden, just ate it right from the plant. :D And watching your video makes me even more happy. :)
i've been growing bush tomato hybrids for several years now, and i will never go back. Quite literally set them, and forget them. One 20 inch diameter, hog wire tube cage each is all the support they need. prolific fruit production with zero maintenance, staking, training, pruning.
Hmm, to prune or not to prune, that is the question. G'dam I trust you for honest answers. What's truly wild is that it"s so obvious when someone is trying to (Sell us) and when someone is trying to say truth, it's easy to spot. Love you, please keep producing more great content!
Thanks for the info, very helpful. Last year I pruned my cherry tomato plants and I didn't get much tomatoes at all. This year, I will not prune my cherry tomato plants.
I used the same strategy, and had great success. I chose to grow indeterminate plants like Better Boy and Super beef steak Hybrid. I could plant 3 each and get 15 to18 bushels a year, that I cooked down to about 120 quarts. My plants got to 8 to 9 feet tall every year and I had so many tomatoes I would give them away. My season was shorter in Wisconsin, but if you do things right, you WILL get way more than you can handle. So many people plant dozens of plants and can't get anywhere near what I used to get. You don't need that much space, just good prep work in the soil and good planning for the growth! You can kill the weeds with black plastic in early spring, just cover your garden with it. It absorbs heat from the sun, which encourages growth, and at night the cold kills it off. Do this early in April and repeat til the end of May. Then til your ground every other week to keep killing competition off. Then add 20/10/10 fertilizer to the soil,(or if organic, then try chicken waste, horse waste). I'd stay away from cow waste because they eat everything, so you will get lots of weeds in your fertilizer. When planting time comes, I always set my soaker hoses just where I needed, then covered in black plastic , with holes for water drainage. Stake down that plastic, then its time to plant. Pick your spots not far from the hoses, cut the plastic and remove a large coffee can full of dirt. Replace with PEET moss, and mix in the dirt into the hole, then plant your plants! If you do this one step, you will avoid split tomatoes, and increase your yield by 10% if not more. This creates a consistent water supply that stops splitting of skin. This will save you over half your crop how ever you grow it, With GMO fertilizers or with organic! I used to use Concrete wire for tomato cages, It's 5 feet wide, comes in 50 to 100 foot rolls, and if you cut it on the 5 foot end 1 foot into the mesh, roll it up in 7 foot lengths, you get a 3.5 foot diameter cage that will withstand most all wind storms, (Not all). Plus you can reach through the 6 inch square holes and get almost every tomato from inside the cage. Use copper sulfate to protect against blytes, The lime in the soil helps with Blossom end rot( but egg shells will do the same if you raise chickens), and if you use miracle grow with all of these, I guarantee you the month of August will be a cross between heaven and Hell!
You made some great points about pruning vs not pruning, and I would tend to agree with you. Two years ago I accidently cut the top off one of my larger tomato plants when trying to remove the "suckers" when the plant was in the ground for about a month. It did not produce a single tomato and barely grew at all after I cut the top by accident. Secondly, I grew a cherry tomato plant right up against my deck two years ago and I let it grow onto the deck and it spread for several feet. I had so many cherry tomatoes on that plant I didn't know what to do with them! It has now been my experience to limit the pruning due to what, as you explained with the cherry tomatoes, that the tomatoes prefer the shade in order to ripen. The fact that I can bring tomatoes in near the end of the season and have them ripen in my basement with no sunlight proves this. So I really limit my pruning now and I get plenty of fruit off them.
That was very helpful! I make Tomato Jam, which is really a sort of chutney, but puts ketchup absolutely to shame. I use half sauce tomatoes for body and half small cherry tomatoes to give it a chunky texture. Your mention that cherry tomatoes are the original variety answered a question for me. Up until less than two hundred years ago, many people didn't think tomatoes were edible and grew them as "ornamental" garden plants. I always wondered what was attractive about big over ripe tomatoes rotting in the garden but it seems likely that they growing cherry tomato plants with clusters of small fruit that would have been much prettier to look at and at least a little bit less messy. I always learn something from you vids!
Lovely, thank you so much. Great clarification! I am growing my first veggie garden in years, and have one big tomato and one black cherry tomato, can't wait!
Loving your videos mark. I threw some cherry tomatoes around a building site and forgot. a few months later, we discovered plants growing well with succulent red cherry tomatoes on them - without any help, watering, pruning or nurturing from anyone. You’ve explained that mystery now!
So I did what you said and BAM it was great - tons of tomato's without the extra leaves'. Just want to add I did this with my burning bushes and maple trek's with the same great results and now my tree's look like an umbrella and are growing so much better so I thing sucker branches are ALSO AFFECTING MY TREE - BUSH GROWTH. They all doing great to this sucker removal understanding. Thanks.
Oh I just love listening to you I wish I was your neighbor I absolutely love your garden it's beautiful and you are so knowledgeable thank you for sharing with us
You know you wanted to eat one of those cherry tomatoes in your hand. 😃 I've watched several channels on this subject and I've heard opposing opinions. However, listening to you and seeing the results of your work, it's obvious you know exactly what you're talking about. Beautiful plants!
Thanks for the video Mark. I have 8 patio tomato plants and I don't want to mess them up! Your videos are all so informative and enjoyable, I'm happy I subscribed! Keep up the good work!
My husband loves to snipe out tomato leaves whenever he is in garden, I have forwarded this video to him😂 your videos always full of tips, thank you for sharing
Thanks Mark. Top stuff. I needed to see this. I have half dozen tomato plants in my backyard that I've made a few mistakes with, that are growing quite well despite my stuff ups. Yours is the help I needed. Cheers
I had these small tomatoes in a pot last year and one seed made it into my garden and grew on its own. It is now one of my biggest tomatoe plants and always good for a little snack :-)
This year I didn’t plant cherry tomatoes and I will miss them. Last year I had an awful whitefly infestation and they loved the cherry ones, I couldn’t control it and had to toss the plants mid season. I decided to go a year without. Love your videos.
This was awesome! I always prune the deceased and lower branches, but other than that I just let them go crazy! I always thought I was doing something wrong, but I didn't want to over prune and miss out on fruit. This made me feel so much better! Thanks!
This was so helpful, Mark. Thanks for sharing your great gardening adventure with us. Absolutely love your channel! Your comments about the cherry tomato bush intrigued me and I wondered, could you share the name of the specific variety you showed us that was wonderfully cascading down?
We have a tom plant that grows here in south Florida that will grow thru the hottest part of summer called Everglades tomato. I explain to people they are the size of marbles and it is just wonderful to go into the garden and eat.
I have a few indeterminate money maker tomatoes, I'd like to see "how" you do some pruning of your ones mark, make for another awesome video of yours I get to watch!! Keep up the great work mate, loving your channel!!!!
Self Sufficient Me form one retired soldier to another thanks brother. The stuff you are putting out is super helpful and most importantly entertaining! I too am playing the stay at home father at the moment so I decided I was going to get my hands dirty. I learned a lot from your videos and am learning a whole lot more working in my own beds. I wish this video had come a few months ago but, Hey, I can't complain some of my stuff is gone gang busters! Never had time for this when I was in. It is such fun showing the kids what you can do.... when they want. haha Cheers Chris in NC USA
You have the best and most informative videos! I can’t thank you enough for all the wonderful information you provide, it has helped me out on numerous occasions. Please keep the videos coming, they are truly appreciated!
Never been a huge tomato fan but still grow a bunch. However a got a cherry tomato plant this year that was grafted onto a fast growing bushy variety and they are amazing. I eat them as they are starting to turn orange. They taste like salt has been added and are super fruity as well. The best
Growing Roma tomatoes (determinate) in containers I have learned that pruning is necessary to ensure bountiful harvest. Even though the height is determinate the plant continues to send out shoots, and if you don't manage (prune) the shoots to keep them in check your yield will suffer greatly. You'll have more individual fruits, but much smaller in size - like cherry tomatoes. Each shoot on a Roma is good for 5 - 8 fruits from my experience.
There are better seasons than others and sometimes we can't help the weather or the perfect "storm" allowing for more pests or disease than usual. Don't be disheartened because next year will likely be a bumper harvest :)
Just planted my first tomato plants today. San Marzano. I'm trying to copy your gourd tunnel as closely as possible because it looks like an awesome place to get some shade during a work-from-home beer lunch break.
I always plant a row of cherry indeterminate because they’re old faithful when the big ones fail. And they’re ready to eat weeks sooner. Trying my beets among them this year too. Thank you.
I absolutely love your practical advise towards plants, vegetables, fruits and so on, you are spot on every time. Being a native Floridian with our beautiful weather almost year round and a father that gave me a love for growing things. I thought I had a library's worth of knowledge when it came to gardening. Since I began to watch your channel I have realised maybe my knowledge isn't as vast as I thought it was..lol. I have learned so much, you are absolutely my go to person when I need help..I thank you for the information about that last tomato plant in this video. I'm currently growing 20 Sweet 100 tomatoes, the size of my tomatoes are very similar to the last tomato plant you spoke about, I believe you said it was a bush..mine are a vine and would grow over my second story home if I let them. I've never tasted a tomato so sweet as these. I'm so glad you informed us not to prune too much off the bottom, I've been taking some of the very long leaves off the plants and keeping them off the soil. Now I know to let them get grow dense so that it protects these very small delicious tomatoes. Thank you so much for all the help! 🤗
Thank you! I don't use the dusts but there may be organic types that work ok and are pretty safe. I do use an eco-organic fungicide (bicarbonate based) to help prevent disease. Cheers :)
Just what I was looking for. My cherry tomato plants are going crazy. Wasn't sure whether to prune or not. You've answered my question in this video. Great work. My daughter in law told me about your site and very glad she did. Subscribed.
Thank you for your detailed reasoning about large vs small tomato's and pruning. In the future I'll change my tomato placement. It's much harder to support the large fruit with multiple vines. Last year I let a cherry go crazy and it wasn't hard to support at all. Seems like common sense now but I didn't think about it like that!
![[Live] : ONE FIGHT NIGHT 28 วันนี้!! "พระจันทร์ฉาย vs เอลลิส"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LfImEQqfARc/mqdefault.jpg)
I watch so many of this guys vids that I make his accent when I explain gardening to others
That's funny but I totally agree! All Hail the words of our Self Sufficient Leader
lmfao
🤣 Well, if you must imitate someone it might as well be Mark, one of the best. 🤣
As an Aussie who shares his accent, I wish I could do this 😂
If y’all don’t start your explanations with G’day then yall arent real fans
I had this argument about pruning tomatoes with others. Last year, we all decided to settle it once and for all. We each grew a plant OUR way. One pruned radically, one moderately and one not at all. They all fruited OK but the moderately pruned one did best of all because sir could circulate and plant energy was not wasted. The unpruned one sprawled on the dirt and got diseased and eaten by insects. The radically pruned one was staked and just kept growing upwards. It produced not as much as the others but it was nice fruit. However, fierce sun burnt it
Exactly what I was thinking would happen with heavily pruned👍
Thanks for this. I have always pruned moderately and gotten great results and have always wondered if I should prune more or not at all. Great vlog 👍
Your experiment had a flaw in that you didn't support the unpruned plant. Had the other two plants been in contact with the soil, they too would have similar disease and insect damage.
For indeterminate tomatoes, I prune to ensure airflow, remove unnecessary leaves (takes away from fuller, robust fruit), and avoid excessive sprawl. I keep the plants off the ground. My early girls grow 8-10 feet tall but produce buckets. The plants are 2 feet apart. So...this year, for example, one plant has 22 tomatoes developing in the first foot and a half of growth. I control suckers to prevent sprawl but suckers are very productive. I get 3-4 large harvests each year in California. If you do the math that is 66-100 tomatoes per plant. Single stem planting does not ring true for me since I focus on quantity and quality. The idea of planting other veggies between tomatoes doesn't work for my way of growing except in the first month and a half of growth as the plants are small. For determinate plants i prune to ensure airflow focusing on the energy-sapping leaves. Some suckers need to be removed but seldom. Given California's weather I'm able to get a second surge of growth from some of the determinate plants like ace. As always fertilize, keep the calcium and phosphorous feeding on schedule and periodic deep watering is critical. Stressing the tomatoes is not part of my philosophy of growing tomatoes since I moderate watering diligently. Oh, the airflow requirement also ensure access by beneficial insects -- the bumblebees and carpenter bees are my best tomato pollinators. Tomatoes take a lot of work but the end result for canners, salsa makers, and salad lovers is exceptionally satisfying and delicious. Thanks for this video.
I think the real secret is just prune anything that touches the ground. If it really gets too thick prune off some leaves for airflow since you're likely artificially preventing it from spreading out. It's not too difficult to get great results. Hardly pruned anything but diseased leaves off 4 plants last summer just to see. They got primo sun and it was ridiculous how much they produced.
I've been growing tomatoes for 20 years. I prune every leaf below the flowers once a week it increases food to the tomatoes they grow bigger and healthier. I average 12 to 18kg per plant. Last year I got 170kg from 10 plants. My cherry tomatoes do the same and got buckets full from 5 plants
Wow. How do you fertilise them?
@@Cam-qx2bq mm
Have you ever got horn worms
Is that indeterminate and determinate?
Hi, when you say "every leaf below the flowers" do you mean for the entire plant or just that stem? Are you in Australia? If so what do you do for fruit fly, they damaged most of my tomatoes here in queensland last summer.
Mark, I can't watch as often as I'd like, but I watch when I can. Every time I check in on you, I find that your channel has grown by leaps and bounds. Every time. I remember when you were questioning your YT presence at about 22k subs. Look at you now. I'm so proud of you!
Great info on tomatoes. My mouth was watering at the sight of those beautiful cherry toms. Have one for me. ~ Lisa
This should be required viewing for gardeners; I seriously learned more in this short video about Tomato than hours of research and BS tutorials. Mahalo!!
The pruning music is so dramatic I love it 4:45
When I pruned my tomatoes I put the pruned branches in a solo cup with potting soil.in 7 days they were full of roots.i planted them an have many new plants.
Hi Nancy. Did you put those pruned branches in water or soil? Thanks for your help.
@@markpang8847 hi Mark.i put them in reg potting soil.they root very fast!
Mahalo Nancy. Wish me luck. 🤙
@@markpang8847 just be sure to keep them moist till they root. You'll be amazed!! Blessings!!
Mark Pang tip.
Put small amount of water soluble fertiliser in a container with water. Place the potted cutting in the water leaving an inch or two clearance for root growth.
If it gets cold use clear plastic wrap and a container large enough to support leaf growth under the plastic
Great topic Mark - a classic tomato question answered!
Thanks Kevin! :)
The crossover of the century
@@flawdajit5845 lol so true
My two dads showing love, bloody legends
@@lucasbennett7717 hahaha true
This channel is has been one of the best inspirations for my small family farm. Thank you, first of all for your service to your country (Vet here myself) and also for all that you do on your home and allowing all of us to see. I also have designed and built my raised beds gathering ideas from your designs and am hoping to build a tomato tunnel similar your gourdes. Thanks again !
G'day Tony and thank you for your service! I'm glad you've been able to get some ideas from my vids and adapt them to your own property. Best of luck with your tomato tunnel - it's a great way to grow them! Thanks for taking the time to say hello mate, cheers :)
I was watching a guy's video last week with bushy tomatoes and he would cut at least 60% of the plant away. Was tough to watch, but I guess it works for him. I only trim the bushy ones when the branches get small or yellow or when they grow into another plants space.
Yes true, I'm guilty of breaking so-called gardening rules all the time and I wouldn't criticise someone's gardening technique especially if what they do works well for them. I encourage everyone to listen and learn as much as they can from others but in the end, have fun experimenting in the garden and build your own knowledge through experience. Cheers :)
Wrote this long deliberate comment about how much appreciate channels with homesteading and self-sufficiency.. turned into a rant.
I guess all I really need to say is: Huge thanks for sharing, truly.
As a literature loving gardener, the intro was perfection to me ❤️
Your videos feel so stable and refreshing. Not tons of editing, random clipping bits, or any of the nonsense of today's common. Just a long winded, in a good way, discussion on how you go about it. It's nice to click a video and know it's exactly what expected all the way through. The bit of knowledge I pick up here and there is a bonus on that. Good on you for being true to your community
2 things in life you cannot buy. True love and home grown tomatoes. Love the channel. Trying to keep the larger variety going in my poly-greenhouse, here in Ipswich, over winter
There’s not many things better than that sweet, slightly warm cherry tomato fresh off the vine.
I dont know man. Ground cherries are pretty ultimate.
Dennis McFall I also love yellow pear tomatoes.
I NEED THEM! I love my "Chocolate Sprinkles" variety, such a beautiful red-watermelon color.
They also seem less prone to weather events - they don't split if not watered regularly, don't seem to get so many diseases. I guess being smaller, they don't need so long to ripen ... ?
My cherry tomatoes are producing now and they’re delicious! I’ve been confused about pruning them and this video has really helped.
Cherry tomatoes are my favs!!
Lucky! The ground was too wet to do anything with until late May, so my first ones are still maturing. ♥ Cherry tomatoes!
Did you prune or not?
Pruning tomatoplants is my actual job. Good explaination. Love the channel.
Would you recommend pruning Sungold tomatoes? Ours have gotten massive and taken over our garden box.
I'm impressed
I just transplanted my tomato plant to get it away from a cactus but now all the leaves are looking sad... what should I do?!
@@Randemoller Awww,nobody answered you! I hope it survived! I'm no gardener of the world but I do have plants that somehow are okay,and I would say go over everyday and get close,then speak reassuringly and ever so lovingly tell it you will do all you can to make sure it has everything it ever needs to thrive beauitfully!
Hey it can't hurt!
Stacee Payne thanks I trimmed it a bit fed it and cut some parts off crossing my fingers!!
This is seriously one of my favorite channels on TH-cam currently! You do an amazing job. Thank you so much for your guidance and knowledge! Cheers from Washington state!
Wish I had come across this video last week...before I massively pruned what turns out to be my determinate tomato plant 😭
I found a dozen tomato plants in the back lawn, growing via giving the dogs tomato as snacks. You inspired me to pot a couple and keep looking after them. So far so good! Hopefully I'll get some tasty fresh fruit one day :)
Good move! Hope they grow fruitful! Cheers :)
When I was a kid there was a Pizzeria near my Grandmother's house, they tossed veggies out the back door and tomatoes were popping up. With our hands we siblings dug some up and transplanted them in her back yard, the were very prodigious.
@@timan2039 that sounds like an awesome idea.
maby a bit late but tomatoes are toxic for dogs
@@bassy-xh1rk Nonsense.
You, sir, are the Russel Crowe of gardening! Subbed! Love your channel
Thank you :)
You are, after all, the Russell Crowe of your garden rows!
Ricky Gervais of gardening?
The Garden Gladiator. Yes I am entertained.
RTORC78 lol
This was so useful. Right now I have 18 tomato plants in my garden, fingers crossed for a good crop. Thank you from the Netherlands.
Excellent. I like how easy it is to watch. You speak slowly and clearly and address concerns quickly. Subbed
Interesting. Very good info, I actually have to speed his videos up sometimes 1.25x-1.5x
Hello Vista profile pic, that's a throwback :)
This is our first year with taking off the bottom branches...am excited to see how well it works.
Watching from Canada, love your channel and I’m glad I subscribed. Thanks 🙏🏻
Thank you for subscribing to my channel Colleen! :)
Self Sufficient Me the pleasure is all mine...am learning a ton of valuable information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience 🙏🏻
From Canada too. Love this channel as well. Never gardener before but starting a container garden this year.
Belynda Young great idea, think it behooves everyone to start their victory gardens too. Started last year and we are doubling our gardens next weekend. Can’t wait to get planting, so exciting to get growing! Good luck in your gardening efforts.
@@colleenmcintosh6974 Thanks. I am excited to get started too
Very helpful as always. I've grown tomatoes "by the seat of my pants" in the past. They turned out pretty good but this year I decided to learn more about how to grow them better. Thanks so much!
Thanks Mark; another winner! I agree with your other fans; you're a treat to watch and learn from. Blessings to you and your family!🙏👵🌱💞👍👍
Thanks Melody and blessings to you also! :)
I've been gardening for years my tomatoe plants are doing a lot better now after watching your videos . Even one of your previous videos I thought I might have been one of the only ones growing tomatoes in winter because there are less fruit flies which I discovered about a few years ago especially growing them in south east Queensland , I was over the moon when you were doing the same bloody brilliant mate
This is my favorite new channel. You're approaching this scientifically for the benefit of the rest of us gardeners. As a first-time 🍅 plant grower (on my apartment balcony), I greatly appreciate your efforts. Subscribed!
Snap! I only have a balcony and I'm trying tomatoes this year. How did you get on?
@@tonystephengrayson hey! They ended up getting blossom end rot but a few were viable and they tasted very good. I would do a sweeter variety than San Marzano next time though. The other plants (peppers, strawberries, herbs) did great! I recommend some kind of mulch if you're in a dry climate. In Colorado, mine just CHUGGED water twice a day.
Edit: definitely get a tomato cage cone thing!
@@musa2775 thanks for replying. I'm trying sun gold, and rubylicious. Also tumbling tom. Throwing myself in the deep end i know🤣 I'll be caging 2 and growing 2 as single cordons to see the difference. I live in London, so the weather is hit and miss. I will definitely use mulch👍
Love that pronunciation of foliage❤
That's how we say it here in Australia!
Just put my cherry tomatoes in the ground today, thanks for all the tips! Maybe the best gardening channel on TH-cam.
As a novice gardener, I thank you for the focused info about pruning or not pruning tomato plants. So much to learn about gardening.... focused info makes it easier.
Mark ...
Great video. Though I don't have tomatoes this year ...I have had them in the past. I agree 100% Determinate should be left alone. Though the pruning at least a foot from the base is always a good idea to keep dessease at bay.
Always enjoy watching your channel.
Thanks Eric for your input and experience! Cheers mate :)
Mark you are amazing, we have spent the last two years into retirement following your example. Ex military we had not before had time to discover the earth. Great videos and great presentation., look forward to more...!
Thanks Mark! I’m growing my first veggie patch because of your videos :) I’ve grown tommy toe tomatoes and am about to go and prune the small suckers off.
I just pulled an old dresser out of the trash. I'm going to convert it into a raised bed. Even if it only lasts 2-3 season, that's ok with me. Besides, it was FREE!!
Man, The action music when you were pruning the tomato plants had so much suspense! Thank you for for such an action packed video. I learned lots. Before my path to tomato growing had no potential. Now I have enough confidence to become a tomato grower.
I had a great harvest prunning my tomatoes... greetings from Brazil!
I love this video ( and all your videos!) . So many people want to give a "absolute" on pruning, only leave ONE leader, cut out ALL extra shoots, and I'm left wondering, why? Seems like 3 leaders would do better...
You give the analysis of the how, why, and when and how all of that pertains to the type of tomato -- and when to break the rules! That's gardening! Excellent work! I"m growing Kratky hydroponically in my living room, and I need the reasons for something, then I can adjust that to my situation - so I can have cherry tomatoes all year long.
YOU have taken gardening and put it back into my life in spite of me now being in an apartment and not having a yard. There is nothing in the world better than growing something from seed to maturitiy and plucking your own produce as you want! Thank you so much!
I was just looking at my huge bushy tomatoes thinking "should I prune them?" Thank you!
My mouth watered at 8:54 just seeing those little red tomatoes!
They are delightful Jessica! Tonight, I made an Asian style soup (light chicken broth with noodles) and I added about 20 of these tomatoes whole with some chopped chillie and garlic chives plus a little grated ginger and baby bok choy leaves OMG the tomatoes gave an amazing acidic hit as they popped in the mouth and it complemented the dish perfectly. Cheers :)
I watch everyone of your videos. I also live in SE QLD and so all your videos are relevant to me and my gardening. The thing I would love is (perhaps) a weekly video, or list of what vegies you are planting, so I can have an idea of what is great to plant and when. Ta Mark
Yes please, what to plant when would be awesome 👌
I live in the desert 🌵 of Phoenix Arizona. I planted some of those root stock cherry tomatoes once 3 years ago and the last two years they have been popping up all over my yard and garden in late December and early January. This year I had one come up in the middle of my desert rock landscaping and it gave fruit. No water 💦 fertilizer, or care of any kind and it gave fruit until I pulled it last week. As time passes the fruit just got smaller and smaller. I left about four of the plants to grow under my lemon 🍋 tree and they are still producing fruit. I made some delicious tomato jam with a couple pounds of them. They are such a hardy plant.
Great story! Yes they are very hardy and a hand plant to have on the side. Cheers :)
I just had the most delicious little snack cucumber from my garden, just ate it right from the plant. :D And watching your video makes me even more happy. :)
Nothing better than right off the plant into the mouth! YUM :)
i've been growing bush tomato hybrids for several years now, and i will never go back. Quite literally set them, and forget them. One 20 inch diameter, hog wire tube cage each is all the support they need. prolific fruit production with zero maintenance, staking, training, pruning.
When that beat kicked in I thought an ad had started running in another tab 😂
Great info, thank you!
LOL...
I love this guys channel . I'm never letting my tomatoes to grow wild like I have in the past.
I don't always prune my tomatoes, but when I do, I have a dubstep kick it off. Another great vid!
Hmm, to prune or not to prune, that is the question. G'dam I trust you for honest answers. What's truly wild is that it"s so obvious when someone is trying to (Sell us) and when someone is trying to say truth, it's easy to spot. Love you, please keep producing more great content!
Thanks for the info, very helpful. Last year I pruned my cherry tomato plants and I didn't get much tomatoes at all. This year, I will not prune my cherry tomato plants.
I been pruning all my tomatoes plants and this morning i did it again now after watching the video i wish i didnt prune my cherries tomatoes
I used the same strategy, and had great success. I chose to grow indeterminate plants like Better Boy and Super beef steak Hybrid. I could plant 3 each and get 15 to18 bushels a year, that I cooked down to about 120 quarts. My plants got to 8 to 9 feet tall every year and I had so many tomatoes I would give them away. My season was shorter in Wisconsin, but if you do things right, you WILL get way more than you can handle. So many people plant dozens of plants and can't get anywhere near what I used to get. You don't need that much space, just good prep work in the soil and good planning for the growth! You can kill the weeds with black plastic in early spring, just cover your garden with it. It absorbs heat from the sun, which encourages growth, and at night the cold kills it off. Do this early in April and repeat til the end of May. Then til your ground every other week to keep killing competition off. Then add 20/10/10 fertilizer to the soil,(or if organic, then try chicken waste, horse waste). I'd stay away from cow waste because they eat everything, so you will get lots of weeds in your fertilizer. When planting time comes, I always set my soaker hoses just where I needed, then covered in black plastic , with holes for water drainage. Stake down that plastic, then its time to plant. Pick your spots not far from the hoses, cut the plastic and remove a large coffee can full of dirt. Replace with PEET moss, and mix in the dirt into the hole, then plant your plants! If you do this one step, you will avoid split tomatoes, and increase your yield by 10% if not more. This creates a consistent water supply that stops splitting of skin. This will save you over half your crop how ever you grow it, With GMO fertilizers or with organic! I used to use Concrete wire for tomato cages, It's 5 feet wide, comes in 50 to 100 foot rolls, and if you cut it on the 5 foot end 1 foot into the mesh, roll it up in 7 foot lengths, you get a 3.5 foot diameter cage that will withstand most all wind storms, (Not all). Plus you can reach through the 6 inch square holes and get almost every tomato from inside the cage. Use copper sulfate to protect against blytes, The lime in the soil helps with Blossom end rot( but egg shells will do the same if you raise chickens), and if you use miracle grow with all of these, I guarantee you the month of August will be a cross between heaven and Hell!
Great tips! Being a beginner this type of instructional videos are so helpful!
You made some great points about pruning vs not pruning, and I would tend to agree with you. Two years ago I accidently cut the top off one of my larger tomato plants when trying to remove the "suckers" when the plant was in the ground for about a month. It did not produce a single tomato and barely grew at all after I cut the top by accident. Secondly, I grew a cherry tomato plant right up against my deck two years ago and I let it grow onto the deck and it spread for several feet. I had so many cherry tomatoes on that plant I didn't know what to do with them! It has now been my experience to limit the pruning due to what, as you explained with the cherry tomatoes, that the tomatoes prefer the shade in order to ripen. The fact that I can bring tomatoes in near the end of the season and have them ripen in my basement with no sunlight proves this. So I really limit my pruning now and I get plenty of fruit off them.
That was very helpful! I make Tomato Jam, which is really a sort of chutney, but puts ketchup absolutely to shame. I use half sauce tomatoes for body and half small cherry tomatoes to give it a chunky texture.
Your mention that cherry tomatoes are the original variety answered a question for me. Up until less than two hundred years ago, many people didn't think tomatoes were edible and grew them as "ornamental" garden plants. I always wondered what was attractive about big over ripe tomatoes rotting in the garden but it seems likely that they growing cherry tomato plants with clusters of small fruit that would have been much prettier to look at and at least a little bit less messy. I always learn something from you vids!
It's pretty uncommon hearing the word chutney from an American,have you visited India by any chance lol
@@Eulogy1613 No. LOL! I would *love* to visit India. I'm just a n amateur gourmet cook with very eclectic tastes.
@@brucetidwell7715 oh alr haha,you have been on yt for a pretty long time. +1 sub
@@Eulogy1613 Yeah, I spend too much time on YT. Thanks for the follow! I hope I can actually start posting videos in the next year or so.
@@brucetidwell7715 I see,good luck with your yt channel :)
Lovely, thank you so much. Great clarification! I am growing my first veggie garden in years, and have one big tomato and one black cherry tomato, can't wait!
Another fantastic episode!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. I know I appreciate your advice very much.
Thank you so much from Scotland. I’m a noobie Gardner and I’m learning so much.
You remind me so much of Russell crowe except your videos are better. keep up the great work.
Thank you! Imagine if the real Crowe did a few TH-cam gardening vids - I'd say they'd be pretty epic lol... Cheers :)
Loving your videos mark. I threw some cherry tomatoes around a building site and forgot. a few months later, we discovered plants growing well with succulent red cherry tomatoes on them - without any help, watering, pruning or nurturing from anyone. You’ve explained that mystery now!
Thankfully we have you for the important questions
Been watching for about 2 years now and every video I watch you get a "like" immediately. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom!
I have a garden myself I find your video
Very helpful
Thank you and all the best with your garden! :)
So I did what you said and BAM it was great - tons of tomato's without the extra leaves'. Just want to add I did this with my burning bushes and maple trek's with the same great results and now my tree's look like an umbrella and are growing so much better so I thing sucker branches are ALSO AFFECTING MY TREE - BUSH GROWTH. They all doing great to this sucker removal understanding. Thanks.
Love your insight Mark. Thanks. Have a wonderful day..!!
I am a beginner gardener and your videos are very helpful!
Oh I just love listening to you I wish I was your neighbor I absolutely love your garden it's beautiful and you are so knowledgeable thank you for sharing with us
Thank you Beverly! :)
Ùñk
You know you wanted to eat one of those cherry tomatoes in your hand. 😃
I've watched several channels on this subject and I've heard opposing opinions. However, listening to you and seeing the results of your work, it's obvious you know exactly what you're talking about. Beautiful plants!
Thanks for the video Mark. I have 8 patio tomato plants and I don't want to mess them up! Your videos are all so informative and enjoyable, I'm happy I subscribed! Keep up the good work!
My husband loves to snipe out tomato leaves whenever he is in garden, I have forwarded this video to him😂 your videos always full of tips, thank you for sharing
Thanks Mark. Top stuff. I needed to see this. I have half dozen tomato plants in my backyard that I've made a few mistakes with, that are growing quite well despite my stuff ups. Yours is the help I needed. Cheers
Great stuff Helen all the best for a top harvest then! Cheers :)
I had these small tomatoes in a pot last year and one seed made it into my garden and grew on its own. It is now one of my biggest tomatoe plants and always good for a little snack :-)
A couple of my friends and myself are so addicted to your channel :)
Thanks! I appreciate your support and enthusiasm - it encourages and inspires me to create more vids. Cheers :)
I'm a beginner in pruning tomatoes and this video really helped. Thanks
Watching from Massachusetts, USA. I LOVE your tomato set-up! Easy harvesting/No stooping,...new sub!
I'm a keen stand-up gardener, thank you :)
Do you plant tomatoes in the same beds every year? What about soil diseases?
This year I didn’t plant cherry tomatoes and I will miss them. Last year I had an awful whitefly infestation and they loved the cherry ones, I couldn’t control it and had to toss the plants mid season. I decided to go a year without. Love your videos.
The red currant tomatoes are the ones my cickens like the best. I have two of these just for them.
Oh, I bet your hens love them! Cheers :)
my red currant tomato is the most disease-prone plant I've ever grown. Never had early blight before it. But the production is impressive.
This was awesome! I always prune the deceased and lower branches, but other than that I just let them go crazy! I always thought I was doing something wrong, but I didn't want to over prune and miss out on fruit. This made me feel so much better! Thanks!
This was so helpful, Mark. Thanks for sharing your great gardening adventure with us. Absolutely love your channel! Your comments about the cherry tomato bush intrigued me and I wondered, could you share the name of the specific variety you showed us that was wonderfully cascading down?
I think he called it a rootstock tomato.
We have a tom plant that grows here in south Florida that will grow thru the hottest part of summer called Everglades tomato. I explain to people they are the size of marbles and it is just wonderful to go into the garden and eat.
I have a few indeterminate money maker tomatoes, I'd like to see "how" you do some pruning of your ones mark, make for another awesome video of yours I get to watch!! Keep up the great work mate, loving your channel!!!!
Self Sufficient Me form one retired soldier to another thanks brother. The stuff you are putting out is super helpful and most importantly entertaining! I too am playing the stay at home father at the moment so I decided I was going to get my hands dirty. I learned a lot from your videos and am learning a whole lot more working in my own beds. I wish this video had come a few months ago but, Hey, I can't complain some of my stuff is gone gang busters! Never had time for this when I was in. It is such fun showing the kids what you can do.... when they want. haha Cheers Chris in NC USA
Thanks for your service Chris! It's a tough job being a homedad but well worth it mate! Good on ya 🙂👍
Let's get into it!
You have the best and most informative videos! I can’t thank you enough for all the wonderful information you provide, it has helped me out on numerous occasions. Please keep the videos coming, they are truly appreciated!
Love your videos!!! I feel this covers it all in pruning!! Awesome jobs! 👍
Never been a huge tomato fan but still grow a bunch. However a got a cherry tomato plant this year that was grafted onto a fast growing bushy variety and they are amazing. I eat them as they are starting to turn orange. They taste like salt has been added and are super fruity as well. The best
I also like the more acidic varieties due to the taste. They are especially good as an open melt grill on bread with cheese. Cheers :)
Growing Roma tomatoes (determinate) in containers I have learned that pruning is necessary to ensure bountiful harvest.
Even though the height is determinate the plant continues to send out shoots, and if you don't manage (prune) the shoots to keep them in check your yield will suffer greatly. You'll have more individual fruits, but much smaller in size - like cherry tomatoes. Each shoot on a Roma is good for 5 - 8 fruits from my experience.
Thank you buddy !!🤠👍 Great advice for us you tube people! Love your garden advice video's!! Take care!! Kind regards!! From Ron !! Tasmania Australia!
thank you for your TH-cam page, now i have a garden that i can eat from.
Excellent stuff! Good on you and thank you :)
I always get a smile watching you Mark! Get it on!
Lots of us having bad time with tomatoes this year because of disease. (Southeast TX, USA)
shashakeeleh Here in Spring 👋 👍🏻
There are better seasons than others and sometimes we can't help the weather or the perfect "storm" allowing for more pests or disease than usual. Don't be disheartened because next year will likely be a bumper harvest :)
@@Selfsufficientme Thanks Mark!
@@jenniferm3572 Hello Neighbor!
Just planted my first tomato plants today. San Marzano.
I'm trying to copy your gourd tunnel as closely as possible because it looks like an awesome place to get some shade during a work-from-home beer lunch break.
How cool would it be to work for this guy 👍👍💪💪✊✊😁😁
I always plant a row of cherry indeterminate because they’re old faithful when the big ones fail. And they’re ready to eat weeks sooner. Trying my beets among them this year too. Thank you.
big discussion with my daughter....her husband....and me... cant wait to see this...….
I loved your relaxed approach . I get stressed out as soon as I see any pests or signs of issues 😂
Thank you. Really informative. What did you call that last variety of tomato - the big, sprawling tomato? Rootstock?
I was wondering where I can get the seed for this big, sprawling tomatoes?
They usually go under the name of "red currant tomatoes" or wild tomatoes.. But red or yellow currant is the most common name of this variety.
Nomis S Thanks! 🍅
@@nomiss1015 Thanks for the info
Nomis S I have one growing now...extremely sprawly but not much fruit. It’s called Celebrity. My hunch is the soil needs nourishment. Thanks again.
I absolutely love your practical advise towards plants, vegetables, fruits and so on, you are spot on every time. Being a native Floridian with our beautiful weather almost year round and a father that gave me a love for growing things. I thought I had a library's worth of knowledge when it came to gardening. Since I began to watch your channel I have realised maybe my knowledge isn't as vast as I thought it was..lol. I have learned so much, you are absolutely my go to person when I need help..I thank you for the information about that last tomato plant in this video. I'm currently growing 20 Sweet 100 tomatoes, the size of my tomatoes are very similar to the last tomato plant you spoke about, I believe you said it was a bush..mine are a vine and would grow over my second story home if I let them. I've never tasted a tomato so sweet as these.
I'm so glad you informed us not to prune too much off the bottom, I've been taking some of the very long leaves off the plants and keeping them off the soil. Now I know to let them get grow dense so that it protects these very small delicious tomatoes.
Thank you so much for all the help!
🤗
Very informative. Thank you. Should you use tomato dust ?
Thank you! I don't use the dusts but there may be organic types that work ok and are pretty safe. I do use an eco-organic fungicide (bicarbonate based) to help prevent disease. Cheers :)
Just what I was looking for. My cherry tomato plants are going crazy. Wasn't sure whether to prune or not. You've answered my question in this video. Great work. My daughter in law told me about your site and very glad she did. Subscribed.
Not just the indeterminate, I noticed you pruned the beard and hair too. 😛
I noticed too. Lol
LOL yes I did...
Thought i was on the wrong channel
Thank you for your detailed reasoning about large vs small tomato's and pruning. In the future I'll change my tomato placement. It's much harder to support the large fruit with multiple vines. Last year I let a cherry go crazy and it wasn't hard to support at all. Seems like common sense now but I didn't think about it like that!