Tomato Plants; Is it necessary to prune excess leaves and those suckers that grow in between branches?

Question

What do other gardeners do? I have tried both ways, leaving them alone, no pruning at all, and I have also pruned them heavily thinking this will help to get bigger tomatoes?

Answer 1

Yes it is necessary,if you do not,these leaves and suckers will take all the nutrients away from the parent plant.
Only grow 5 trusses on each tomato, (any more will reduce size of tomato) removing with thumb and forefinger leaves and suckers in between trusses. Remove flowers on lower trusses.Theses are prone to diseases.Watering is very important,you must give exactly the same amount,morning and evening,lots of it,soak them! Fertilise on a regular basis,this is a must. Tomatoes require at least 6-8 hours of daylight/sunshine daily! This is how I grew mine,with great success. Good luck!

Answer 2

We usually prune them. This year we left the first ones to grow but the following ones were pruned. Those excess leaves will have fruit too. I don't see the difference; big tomatoes or lots of smaller ones.

Answer 3

Actually the pruning will help some but not too severe and especially the suckers. To get bigger yet, you can pluck off some of the blooms also and have less of them but at the same time more due to much larger fruit.

Answer 4

I don't do anything to the plants, just plunk them into the ground and let them do their thing.

Bigger tomatoes would depend on the type, there are a zillion different kinds, from tiny toms to huge beefsteak. When you are buying the plants find out how big they get.

Also a good dose of fertilizer should help as well.

Answer 5

I have tried both ways too. Both work well. This year, no pruning or anything and I have huge, red, juicy maters. Let me know if pruning makes bigger tomatoes, though.

Answer 6

I plant about 15 every year and I've never done anything except, eat tomatos..Every now and then I pull weeds but not much more and I've got some good plants..Buy Beef stake plants if you want bigger best I can tell you...Good Luck ... ROB in Tennessee...

Answer 7

prune them heavily and get bigger tomatoes

Answer 8

do not prune but pinch off some of the blooms will make larger tomatoes

Answer 9

take the leaves away and leave every thing else, give plenty of water and feed with tomato plant food, take the tomato away and ripon in the sun when ready, eat and enjoy best of luck

Answer 10

Hi,,,, i have the biggest and most tomatoes this year ,, i have ever grown,,, i take the suckers off..... and if there are any dead leaves ,,, get them off also....

dont forget to fiertilize ....and water them,,,,,,

good luck