I have read and heard so many different opinions on pruning tomatoes that it makes the tomato part of my head hurt. So here we go.
Yes we should pinch off the suckers in the forks of the large branches. This should be done over the entire plant. I also remove (cut) all the branches that touch the ground or show signs of blight. I use pruning tools for the larger branches and I do clean the blade between cuts. What I have used for cleaning includes bleach, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. They all seem to work well however the alcohol evaporates very fast. I wipe the blades with a soaked paper towel and let them dry between cuts. Using two tools will speed up the process, as one is drying while the other is cutting. For more information on properly pruning your tomatoes, please click here.
You can still plant cantaloupe, okra, peppers, squash, pumpkins and watermelons (if you feel lucky). They are easy to start by seed but plants are available.
