Pruning semi-determinates

[FatBeeFarm]

Hello everyone! Sorry for basically disappearing for two months. I've been working outside 10 to 12 hours a day cleaning winter damage, planting, mulching, trellising, weeding, pruning, installing drip irrigation, building a greenhouse and raised beds, and putting up an 84 growbag garden in addition to the foregoing. I have grand plans for this year, but maybe bit off more than I realized I would have to chew. Good news is I'm almost done, I just finished the trellising and should be able to complete the green house this weekend. Everything else is done. I hope to be able to share photos very soon.

I do have a pruning question which Google is not being very helpful with. I do prune the suckers off my indeterminates daily, and I've got them trellised on Qliprs (I'll be sharing updates) and roller hooks. I generally don't prune my determinates much, I put homemade cages around them (I'll probably post on this too). But this is my first year growing a semi-determinate tomato, specifically Orange Icicle. I'm putting them on roller hooks, but they're got a ton of suckers on them and I'm uncertain whether I should prune them off or not.

Anyone here have advice on whether to prune their suckers or not?

[bower]

My experience with semi-determinates is that they have a more linear growth habit similar to indets, but fruit/leaf patterns are like a determinate. So the main issue is to provide support for the leader (or two) and otherwise treat as a determinate.
Semi determinate growth habits are really variable, so how to manage beyond that will depend on the variety - I haven't grown Orange Icicle so I can't say.
If the suckers are getting very long before they terminate in some clusters of fruit, then you have to consider whether it's worth the trouble to support them. (A cage helps for that type of plant, where suckers can use support). Florida weave is another helpful technique for this kind of plant if you have a row of them.
Otherwise it depends on your situation - is there need for more airflow or is the plant okay with the space planted. Of course you will get a higher yield if you keep all the suckers and let them all bear some fruit.
I have used florida weave (or similar) strategy at my friend's farm one summer for pretty tight planting with minimal pruning to maximize fruit yield on tall determinates/semi-det and indeterminates. Basically going through once a week and weaving line across the row to push those extra suckers back into a tomato wall and retain your walking space between rows. The yield was much better that way.

[FatBeeFarm]

My experience with semi-determinates is that they have a more linear growth habit similar to indets, but fruit/leaf patterns are like a determinate. So the main issue is to provide support for the leader (or two) and otherwise treat as a determinate.
Semi determinate growth habits are really variable, so how to manage beyond that will depend on the variety - I haven't grown Orange Icicle so I can't say.
If the suckers are getting very long before they terminate in some clusters of fruit, then you have to consider whether it's worth the trouble to support them. (A cage helps for that type of plant, where suckers can use support). Florida weave is another helpful technique for this kind of plant if you have a row of them.
Otherwise it depends on your situation - is there need for more airflow or is the plant okay with the space planted. Of course you will get a higher yield if you keep all the suckers and let them all bear some fruit.
I have used florida weave (or similar) strategy at my friend's farm one summer for pretty tight planting with minimal pruning to maximize fruit yield on tall determinates/semi-det and indeterminates. Basically going through once a week and weaving line across the row to push those extra suckers back into a tomato wall and retain your walking space between rows. The yield was much better that way.

Thank you Bower! I think I will prune one hard and leave it on a roller hook, but put the rest in 8 foot cages I built from cattle panels (they can support anything.) At the end of the season I'll know which way they do better. I appreciate your input!

[JRinPA]

8 foot cages from cattle panels...this I've got to see.

[pondgardener]

16 foot cattle panel cut in half and hung vertically?