How to Trim Tomatoes

At this point in the season, the tomato plants are flourishing! Now is the time for a trim.

Why do we need to prune tomatoes plants? There are several reasons. First, when the tomato plant starts to produce fruit, we want the majority of the plants energy to go into ripening the tomato. Excess branches and leaves are just a drain on the plant and may cause the tomatoes to be smaller, less abundant, and not as flavorful. Second, keeping the plant pruned will allow for more ventilation through the plant and reduce the effects of fungal diseases that damage the tomato plants. Lastly, it just looks nice! Trimming occasionally will keep the plant small, but the tomatoes big and flavorful.

Wait to trim your tomato plant until the plant is at least 12 inches tall and blossoming. Remove stems that are low or touching the ground. These stems allow for the transfer of the fungal diseases common in tomato plants.  Pinch off any “growth tips.” These are shoots that sprout up in the center of where two stems diverge to form a “Y” shape. Try to preserve the flowering stems as these produce the tomatoes over the next couple weeks. When in doubt, opt to trim less rather than more.

These are just basics to consider when pruning a tomato plant. To truly learn how, you’ll have to go out and practice pruning!

Summer Farm Camp at Deep Roots Community Farm

At Grow La Crosse, our goal is to give kids the opportunities to learn and explore where their food comes from while enjoying a beautiful outdoor setting. Our Farm Camp series does just that! We offer many different types of Farm Camps to best fit the age group and interests of every child. After spending a few days at Farm Camp, we hope to inspire children to eat healthy and take interest in nature.

Farm Camp sessions are filling fast, but we still have openings in the following camps…

Inspired Little Hands on the Farm  ∙  July 26- 28  ∙  9:00am-12:00pm
Ages 3 – 5 years olds  ∙  $110

Summer Inspired Girls on the Farm  ∙  August 1-3  ∙  11:30am-4:30pm
Girls Grades 5-8 (Grade in Spring 2016)  ∙  $140

Summer on the Farm  ∙  August 3-5  ∙  9:00am-2:00pm
Ages 5-13  ∙  $110

Register and reserve a spot today!

Farm Camps

Farm Exploration Days with the Family

Farm experiences aren’t just for kids – they are for everyone! Join us for an afternoon of fun, learning, and exploration at Deep Roots Community Farm.

Print Making and Drawing from Life – Saturday July 23rd from 1:00-3:30pm

Let your creative side soar! Josh Wolcott (M.F.A, M.Ed.) will break down the drawing and print making processes and show us that art can be done and enjoyed by all. We will draw inspiration from the beautiful landscape alongside the bluffs and use farm animals as models. Lila Planavsky (M. Ed.) will then lead us through two simple but successful printmaking techniques on rice paper.

Online registration required.

Print Making and Drawing from Life