Cutting the lower branches of tomato plants? Yay or nay?

[Hugh Jass]

I've got about 20 plants on the go at the moment and have cut the suckers off about half of them.

Just want to get an overall opinion on whether people do this or not? If yes, how far do you cull up the stem from the ground?

I've looked at plants in my neighbourhood and it seems like only about 30% of people do it.

[Dr.Dan]

Typicly, if you have good moisture control (ground cover), it will prevent dirt splashing up onto the leave when watering. Then there's no need to remove lower branches.

[Lesley]

I always do, that way there are fewer rogue shoots to deal with and the plant can focus on producing fruit instead of a bunch of leaves it doesn't need.

[debbie]

I trim 1-2" off the bottom stalk and pinch any suckers I find growing throughout the plant.
So far so good. :)

[Ken_ver_1_5]

its a summer long job to keep after the plants I pinch off the ends
of the plants and remove suckers. its been a good year for my plants
a few years back had almost nothing du to fungus.

[glowstick]

We don't but do put cover under them for moisture control.

[Bluvertigo]

How To Prune a Tomato Plant
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_july_1b_tomato.asp

[Hugh Jass]

How To Prune a Tomato Plant
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_july_1b_tomato.asp

That looks about what I'm doing.

But what exactly does this mean?:

"If any more than seven trusses of tomatoes begins to develop, pinch them out to encourage the plant to produce good quality tomatoes rather than an abundance of low quality late-maturing fruit."

[Dr.Dan]

That means that if you want the best fruit possible, limit the number of branches that are producing fruit to 7.

So the question to you is, do you want quantity or quality?
Most people want quantity, and don't remove any fruiting branches.

[Hugh Jass]

Hmmm.

Usually we get a good crop but by a good few go to waste coz they're nowhere near ripeness when the weather starts to get a bit cold. This year probably won't be as bad as that.

I couldn't imagine myself getting rid of a branch that I know is starting to fruit, it would be like abortion in my mind.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

Hmmm.

Usually we get a good crop but by a good few go to waste coz they're nowhere near ripeness when the weather starts to get a bit cold. This year probably won't be as bad as that.

I couldn't imagine myself getting rid of a branch that I know is starting to fruit, it would be like abortion in my mind.

well thats different.
one thing to remember if you plan to remove any fruit best to
do it at the flowering stage. if you do it later the shock to the plant
can have the sam result as not doing it at all..

[Hugh Jass]

one thing to remember if you plan to remove any fruit best to
do it at the flowering stage. if you do it later the shock to the plant
can have the sam result as not doing it at all..

That's worth remembering. Thx