Removing suckers from Tomato plants. - Garden Plants and Gardening Forum

Durgan · 04-01-2008, 11:34 AM

Removing suckers from Tomato plants.

1 April 2008 Sucker removal. 1 April 2008 Pictures explaining the method.

Suckers are removed from tomato plants to prevent; crowding of the fruit, to increase the size of the fruit. If a sucker is allowed to grow it will produce a stem similiar to the main stem, and the fruit will be extremely crowded and sometimes difficult to pick.

One or two suckers can be allowed to grow if desired, but they should emanate from the area above the first cluster of fruit.

The suckers should not be removed until they can be clearly identified as such. Avoid removing suckers from the main header area due to possibly confusing suckers with the header or a fruiting branch.

Two weeks before the end of the season remove the main header. This will allow the remaining fruit to enlarge and ripen. The plants will often get 4 to 8 feet high, and will need support in most cases.

cia007 · 04-01-2008, 09:39 PM

Great advice! I did this last year and had an amazing crop of tomatoes and very healthy plants!

04-01-2008, 11:34 AM	#1
Durgan Green Thumb Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brantford, ON, Canada Posts: 77	Removing suckers from Tomato plants. Removing suckers from Tomato plants. 1 April 2008 Sucker removal. 1 April 2008 Pictures explaining the method. Suckers are removed from tomato plants to prevent; crowding of the fruit, to increase the size of the fruit. If a sucker is allowed to grow it will produce a stem similiar to the main stem, and the fruit will be extremely crowded and sometimes difficult to pick. One or two suckers can be allowed to grow if desired, but they should emanate from the area above the first cluster of fruit. The suckers should not be removed until they can be clearly identified as such. Avoid removing suckers from the main header area due to possibly confusing suckers with the header or a fruiting branch. Two weeks before the end of the season remove the main header. This will allow the remaining fruit to enlarge and ripen. The plants will often get 4 to 8 feet high, and will need support in most cases. __________________ Durgan Zone 5B http://eesoos.notlong.com

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04-01-2008, 09:39 PM	#2
cia007 Green Thumb Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 48	Great advice! I did this last year and had an amazing crop of tomatoes and very healthy plants!