Trim lower stems
Trimming the lower stems can ensure plant health from the get-go. Especially when you’re first planting, it’s wise to trim the stems that are on the lower part of the plant so you can plant the roots deep in the soil. This is a particularly helpful tip for when your plant is still small and not producing fruit yet.
Trim suckers — especially below first flower cluster
Suckers are tiny, sprout-like stems and leaves that appear between two larger stems. While it’s not mandatory to trim these, it can go a long way to make sure the fruit grows aplenty. Take a pair of scissors to those little energy suckers, and your plant will thank you!
Trim the tops of stems at the end of the season to ripen fruit faster
When frost is near at the end of the season and your plant is full of unripened tomatoes, you can trim the top of each stem in order to ripen your tomatoes faster. This helps spare energy from parts of the plant that don't have fruit on them and can speed up the ripening process. If there are stems with no tomatoes on them, you can trim those entirely!
