Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
- Zech
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Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
Any thoughts on the wisdom of cutting leaves off tomato plants? I've heard of three reasons why it might be a good idea:
1. To let more sunlight get to the fruit
2. The plant thinks it's under attack, panics, and reproduces quickly while it has a chance
3. Because I can't find the fruit in amongst all the leaves.
On the other hand, I can't get past the fact that leaves are where photosynthesis takes place, so surely the plant will be weaker if I remove some of the leaves.
1. To let more sunlight get to the fruit
2. The plant thinks it's under attack, panics, and reproduces quickly while it has a chance
3. Because I can't find the fruit in amongst all the leaves.
On the other hand, I can't get past the fact that leaves are where photosynthesis takes place, so surely the plant will be weaker if I remove some of the leaves.
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Rachel
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Rachel
Take nobody's word for it, especially not mine! If I offer you an ID of something based on a photo, please treat it as a guess, and a starting point for further investigations.
My blog: http://growingthingsandmakingthings.blogspot.com/
Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
I've been told the same about point 1 & point 3 makes sense, but never been told about point 2.
WW
WW
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
I can only speak for myself, but I only remove the bottom old leaves that are past their best anyway, with the aim of improving the air circulation. Unnecessary high humidity caused by moisture trapped between the moist compost/soil and massive lower leaves can aid blight spores.
I never remove any of the top healthy leaves for the reasons you pointed out, other that side shoots and the tops when they reach the limit of how tall I'm prepared to let them grow.
... and I never allow my tomatoes to panic.
I never remove any of the top healthy leaves for the reasons you pointed out, other that side shoots and the tops when they reach the limit of how tall I'm prepared to let them grow.
... and I never allow my tomatoes to panic.
Tony
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
- Green Aura
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
Ditto - I did precisely that just yesterday.
As usual we've packed far too much into the polytunnel and I found one of the potted tomatoes that had been shoved to the back looking very poorly, black stems and leaves. It got hauled out immediately - I'm just hoping whatever the problem was won't affect anything else - although it all looks pretty healthy for now. I've swapped round a couple of tomatoes and an onion squash to try and alter the air flow a bit.
As usual we've packed far too much into the polytunnel and I found one of the potted tomatoes that had been shoved to the back looking very poorly, black stems and leaves. It got hauled out immediately - I'm just hoping whatever the problem was won't affect anything else - although it all looks pretty healthy for now. I've swapped round a couple of tomatoes and an onion squash to try and alter the air flow a bit.
Maggie
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Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
I've only got a mini greenhouse, and with the one tomato plant that's in there, it's choc-a-bloc full... If I didn't take off any of the leaves, it would not get any air at all.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Zech
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
Air flow is a reason I hadn't heard before, and it seems to be the only one you guys take seriously. I'd never been entirely convinced about the sunlight theory, because I've observed shaded tomatoes ripening before those growing right next to the glass.
I've been out and picked a few leaves off the bottom - most of them looked fine, but it was very crowded in there. Still is, really but I'll try not to alarm my tomatoes too much with excessive leaf-pulling
I've been out and picked a few leaves off the bottom - most of them looked fine, but it was very crowded in there. Still is, really but I'll try not to alarm my tomatoes too much with excessive leaf-pulling
---
Rachel
Take nobody's word for it, especially not mine! If I offer you an ID of something based on a photo, please treat it as a guess, and a starting point for further investigations.
My blog: http://growingthingsandmakingthings.blogspot.com/
Rachel
Take nobody's word for it, especially not mine! If I offer you an ID of something based on a photo, please treat it as a guess, and a starting point for further investigations.
My blog: http://growingthingsandmakingthings.blogspot.com/
Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
Commercial growers,always remove the lower leaves,and as everyone's suggested,this is counter the prob of blight.which thrives in stagnant air.I've grown Sweet Million this year,and they are very leafy,so I'm pulling them off big style.
- RunnerBean
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
Been cutting the leaves off mine too. You can use the leaves to make aphid spray so my sweet peas are benefitting too
- doofaloofa
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
RunnerBean wrote:Been cutting the leaves off mine too. You can use the leaves to make aphid spray so my sweet peas are benefitting too
Please expand on this
All aphids must die!
ina wrote: die dümmsten Bauern haben die dicksten Kartoffeln
- Millymollymandy
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
I took 80% of the leaves off my toms because they got blight and I've never had such a fabulous harvest of fast ripening toms before! I reckon it's because the sun has been able to get at the fruit ripening it up more quickly. I'm going to do this every year from now on, blight or no blight! I should mention that all the toms (the fruit) were already large and finished growing, so they just needed ripening. But don't do this if you live in a very hot country because they might get scorch from the sun.
http://chateaumoorhen.blogspot.com/boboff wrote:Oh and just for MMM, (thanks)
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- Tom Good
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Re: Should I cut leaves of tomatoes?
I just had to remove a lot of leaves from my tomatoes, due to me accidentally droughting them and the leaves at the bottom pretty much dying (It had been a very hot couple of days). They haven't done anything since really, but they seem to be getting healthier.