Should I Top My Cherry Tomato Plant?

Cherry tomatoes are a popular choice among home gardeners due to their compact size, juicy sweetness, and high yield. However, as your cherry tomato plant grows taller and bushier, you may start to wonder whether or not you should top it. Topping, or removing the top of the plant, can have both positive and negative effects on your cherry tomato plant's growth and productivity.

Pros of Topping

Topping your cherry tomato plant can be a great way to encourage lateral growth and increase the number of fruit-bearing branches. When you remove the top of the plant, you stop the upward growth and force the plant to focus on producing side shoots. This can help to create a bushier plant that can support more fruit and improve air circulation, ultimately leading to healthier plants.

In addition, topping your cherry tomato plant can help to prevent the plant from becoming too top-heavy and falling over due to the weight of the fruit. This is especially important for cherry tomato plants, as their fruit can be quite heavy in proportion to their small size. By topping the plant, you can help to distribute the weight of the fruit more evenly and reduce the risk of breakage.

Cons of Topping

While topping can have its benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider. For one, removing the top of your cherry tomato plant can temporarily slow down its growth and delay the onset of fruiting. This is because the plant needs to redirect its energy into producing new side shoots and leaves, which can take a few weeks to grow to maturity.

In addition, topping your cherry tomato plant can make it more vulnerable to diseases and pests. When you cut off the top of the plant, you create an open wound that can attract insects and other pests. Moreover, the new side shoots that emerge may be weaker and more susceptible to fungal infections or other problems.

When to Top Your Cherry Tomato Plant

If you do decide to top your cherry tomato plant, it's important to do it at the right time. Ideally, you should wait until the plant has reached a height of at least 18 inches and has formed four to five fruiting branches. This will help to ensure that the plant is strong enough to support the weight of the fruit and that it has enough energy to redirect into the side shoots.

When you're ready to top your cherry tomato plant, use a pair of clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cleanly cut off the top of the plant just above the topmost fruiting branch. Be sure to sterilize your tools before and after use to prevent the spread of disease.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, whether or not you should top your cherry tomato plant depends on your specific needs and goals. If you want to encourage lateral growth, improve air circulation, and prevent the plant from becoming too top-heavy, topping can be a great option. However, if you're concerned about slowing down the plant's growth, making it more vulnerable to pests and disease, or simply prefer a taller plant, it may be best to avoid topping and let the plant grow naturally.