Key Points
Whether it’s too late depends on zone—northern gardens stop before frost, southern ones prune later.If frost is near, pinch flowers, remove diseased leaves, or pull and hang plants so tomatoes ripen indoors.Avoid overpruning, cutting wet plants, or using dirty tools—stick to light, clean cuts for health.
You may have noticed that tomato plants grow to be crazy full. Before you know it, you have a plant that seems to have an endless production of tomatoes, which can feel overwhelming if you don’t control the plant’s size with pruning.
With summer sneaking to its end, you might be wondering if it’s too late to do something about your plant size. The answer? It is… and it isn’t. Pruning tomato plants isn’t a one-size-fits-all. So if you’ve been staring out your back window and looking at your garden, wondering, “Can I prune tomatoes late into the season?” here’s all you need to know (and what to do).
Pruning Isn’t Optional, But It Is Time-Sensitive
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While tomatoes have a pretty lengthy growing season, there can be a time when it becomes too late to prune your plant. So you shouldn’t neglect this task just because you think you have more than enough time to do it.
According to gardening expert Lindsey Chastain, whether it’s too late to prune your tomatoes fully depends on the zone you live in.
“If you live further north, it’s now too late for heavy pruning,” Chastain says. “It could prevent the remaining fruit from ripening before the first frost. If you live further south, where the first frost won’t be until November, it’s not too late.”
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What to Do If It’s Too Late to Prune
If it’s already too late for you to prune your tomato plants, all hope is not lost. You can still prune or take care of your plant to increase the airflow that leads to more ripening. If you live in a northern state where the first frost is quickly approaching,
Chastain says to pinch off any new flowers and tiny fruit that won’t ripen by the time the first frost arrives.
“This will allow more growth to go to the fruit that will ripen,” she says. “You can still do a light cleanup of any yellow or diseased leaves to improve airflow and keep checking for and removing any pests.”
You can also check your plant for any diseased or dead stems to go ahead and remove those. Chastain also says that it’s a good idea to “top” your plant in preparation for the first frost by cutting the growing tip of the plant so any remaining energy can be used on the final fruits.
“If you are stuck with a bunch of green tomatoes and the first frost is coming, pull the entire plant out of the ground roots and all and hang it upside down in a sheltered spot like the garage,” she says. “The tomatoes will continue to ripen on the vine, and you can bypass mother nature just a bit.”
Make Sure to Prune In Appropriate Weather
Knowing what time of year to prune your tomato plants is only half the equation. Vasylchyshyna says the second half is pruning on an appropriate day when the weather is warm and dry.
“This weather allows cuts and breaks on the stem to dry out and heal more quickly,” she says. “High humidity promotes diseases, so don’t prune at night or in the rain to avoid leaving a lot of open wounds on the stems.”
Tip
Always use clean, sharp shears when pruning your tomato plant to make precise cuts. Chastain says to never prune more than 1/3 of leaves at a time to not shock your plant.
Don’t Overprune Your Tomatoes
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Missing your mark when it comes to pruning is a common mistake our experts see a lot. Nastya Vasylchyshyna, master gardener and a botany expert at Plantum, says pruning your tomato isn’t an optional task, but many people think it is.
“Proper pruning is very important for crop yields and the overall health of the tomato plant,” she says. “Pruning stress helps the plant restructure its tissue processes for active fruit formation and discourages it from growing excessive greenery and wasting resources on new shoot formation.”
And on top of not pruning, she says another common mistake that’s made far too often is overpruning.
“Although regular pruning has a positive effect on tomatoes, it’s important to remember that this process can be stressful for the plant,” Vasylchyshyna says, “You should remove leaves gradually and cut no more than 15–20% of the total green mass at a time to keep your plant from losing too much energy.”
3 Other Tomato Plant Pruning Mistakes to Avoid
Here are a few other mistakes our experts want you to avoid when caring for your tomato plants:
Using dirty tools: Dirty pruning shears can spread diseases throughout your plant. Always start with sanitary tools and clean them after every pruning session.Pruning determinate varieties: Not all tomato plants are the same variety. The only variety of tomatoes you should prune is indeterminate, not determinate. Determinate tomatoes grow to a certain size and then stop, so always know the variety you plant so you can care for it properly.Pruning wet plants: Never prune your tomato plants after a rainstorm or when they’re wet. This can cause diseases to develop in the open cuts.
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