Use clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors
Remove any dead, yellow, or diseased leaves
Cut off leaves touching the soil
Remove suckers growing in the leaf joints if you want fewer stems
Keep one to three main stems, depending on plant type and support
Trim crowded inner growth to improve airflow
Remove any stems that are broken or weak
Pinch off flowers and small fruit on very young plants if needed
Prune lower leaves as the plant grows taller
Do not remove more than one-third of the plant at a time
Trim in the morning on a dry day
Disinfect tools between plants
Support the plant with stakes or cages after pruning
Repeat light pruning regularly throughout the season