One of the most common sources of troublesome insects and diseases is having your tomato plants touching the ground.
This is an indeterminant tomato plant doing its favorite thing — vining at ground level. There are two ways to keep this in check. The first solution is simply to prune off any lower stems that are pointing straight down, because they will eventually grow long enough to reach the soil. The second solution is to tie up the heaviest branches.
I seem to be doing these two things every week or so in the tomato garden. But it’s important to not make it too easy for disease, rot and insects to move up into your plants.
Here is the same plant, tied up and trimmed at the bottom. Now it has light, air and room in which to spread out and grow its delicious fruit.
