

You should also pinch off any suckers that grow beneath the first flower cluster on the plant. If you’re growing an indeterminate variety, remove any flowers from the plant until it’s between 12 and 18 inches (30 and 45 cm) tall, which will send more energy to the roots. If your tomato plant is a determinate variety, meaning it has a shorter, predetermined lifecycle, there’s no need to prune it. You only need to worry about pruning your tomato plant if it’s an indeterminate variety, meaning it continues to grow and produce fruit until it’s killed by frost. By improving ventilation, you're helping to protect the plant. Humidity can make it easier for sicknesses to flourish, and it also causes the wounds that are created while pruning to dry up more slowly making the plant longer vulnerable. On the other hand, if your plant is in a humid environment (such as a greenhouse), remove everything below the first flower cluster to improve ventilation.

They are important for helping to shade the ground until the plant matures.

X Research source This should ensure that the majority of the nutrients are sent to the fruits, instead of being wasted on the unwanted growing tips. This keeps the plant strong by helping it grow a sturdy central stem. Do this no matter what kind of tomato plant you have. Remove all suckers and their leaves below the first flower cluster.
