The definitive word on pinching tomato plants

‘It depends’.  There are wildly diverse views on pinching.  Advocates note that you can get faster fruit (true) bigger fruit (sometimes) and dense foliage (often).  Opponents say it’s a waste of time. See http://tallcloverfarm.com/326/tomato-plants-leave-the-poor-little-suckers-alone    Me?

For starters, determinant plants do not need any pruning at all, since they stop growing on their own.  I suggest if you can let the plants spread out let them go because letting the summer breezes pass through the plants is a great beg deterrent. One pruning that is necessary is removal of the lowest leaves just as they begin to yellow – they are of no use to the plant.  The rest depends on your garden and your available time.  I do not pinch – at least not tomatoes.