Help! Over trimmed my tomato plants?

Question

I have about a dozen large leafed tomato plants. When told to trim it (take away the second shoots off the main leaves), I got over zealous and trimmed the bottom leaves (yes, all of them), leaving the growing tomatoes, flowers and the top 1/3 of the plant. Is there a way to save the plants from dying?

Answer 1

You should be okay.

this late in the season you should probably give them shade in the late afternoons to keep them from stressing.

Answer 2

Watch these videos and then you won't feel bad..........

Video How to Prune Tomato Plants

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/25168...

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-prun...

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/10786-how-...

http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/vid...

Answer 3

You may still have a viable plant. Don't despair! As long as you don't remove anymore leaves, keep the plants well watered, and continue to fertilize with a fertilizer designed specifically for tomato plants, there should be enough foliage to sustain the plant.  My father was raised on a farm and he always removed the lower, non-producing stems and yellowing leaves. This provides more energy toward fruit production in the latter part of the growing season.

Answer 4

A few years back someone told me to trim my tomato plants, but end up with a weaker plant and less tomatoes to harvest and the tomatoes are no bigger. What a stupid idea !!  So I never trim my tomato plants again, more branches means more tomatoes. Now since you have already trimmed your tomato plants, It is important to support it with a few strong sticks to prevent it from breaking. Tomatoes are pretty hardly and can regenerate pretty quickly. just water it regularly and don't trim again. They should do fine.

Answer 5

Are your plants really dying?  Are the remaining leaves turning brown and wilting?  Normally trimming the bottom leaves is healthy for the tomatoes, as long as you leave the flowering stems attached.

Feed your toms a good fertilizer, keep them well-watered with warm, moist soil, give them plenty of sun and they should do fine.

You could also burry the de-leafed part of the plant in soil and that part of the stem will grow more roots, thereby strenghtening the plant.  Tomatoes re-root rather fast.