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Tomato suckers are small branches that form in the joints of stems and branches. Contrary to popular belief, they can and do produce fruit. However, that doesn’t mean they should be left to grow on your plants!
The first step to answering these important questions is understanding what a tomato sucker is and its role in the plant’s growth.
Tomato suckers are side shoots that emerge from the joint where the stem and branch of a tomato plant meet. Sometimes, suckers develop into a small set of leaves. Other times, they grow into large branches with a main stem and additional suckers of their own. But should you let them grow?
Removing Tomato Suckers – To Prune Or Not To Prune Suckers
One of the biggest misconceptions about tomato suckers is that they can’t produce blooms or fruit. In reality, they can do both quite well. If left to grow, suckers can develop into substantial branches, stems, and fruit. They can account for as much as thirty percent or more of the plant’s total fruit production if allowed to grow unchecked.
So, knowing that, why would you want to remove suckers? The answer lies in prioritizing quality over quantity!
Why Removing Tomato Suckers Is The Best Option
When it comes to pruning tomato plants, removing the majority of suckers truly is the best option for a better harvest. And it’s so easy to do! There is no need for fancy pruners – just pinch them off with your fingernails as they develop, and in seconds, you can help keep your plant under control.
Allowing the suckers to remain will indeed allow your plant to produce more tomatoes. With more branches and flowers, there will naturally be more fruit.
However, and this is a key point in why pruning suckers off is the better option, that fruit will not be as large. Additionally, your tomatoes may not have as much flavor. Even more, all of that growth can leave your soil depleted of nutrients!
Tomato plants require a tremendous amount of nutrients to grow, produce flowers and set their fruit. When a tomato plant is allowed to grow unchecked, it burns more energy than ever. With an overabundance of branches, flowers, and fruit, it doesn’t have enough energy left to grow sizable tomatoes or enhance the flavor of the tomatoes it produces.
By removing suckers, the plant doesn’t have to maintain or expend energy on growing excess foliage. With less foliage, there will also be fewer flowers and fruit to develop. The good news? All of that extra energy can instead go to producing bigger, more flavorful tomatoes!
Pruning The Base Of Your Tomato Plants
In addition to removing tomato suckers, a little extra pruning at the base of your tomato plant can pay huge dividends for the health of your plants and the quality and quantity of your harvest.
The base of a growing tomato plant is one of its most vulnerable parts. When too many branches and stems are left near the bottom, it makes it easier for pests and diseases to access the foliage and fruit above. Once that happens, it can put the entire harvest in jeopardy.
Blight, one of the deadliest tomato diseases, occurs when spores in the soil get on plants. When leaves and branches touch or are near the soil, the deadly spores can easily splash up on them whenever it rains or you water.
Low-hanging leaves also make it easy for pests to hide and climb onto plants. Aphids, whiteflies, hornworms, and other tomato pests can easily hide under all that low foliage, building their populations as they do so.
3 More Reasons To Remove Suckers & Prune The Bottom Of Tomato Plants!
There are three other important reasons to prune the bottom of your tomato plants: air, light, and water. When you allow a large mass of stems, branches, and leaves at the bottom of your plant, it can block all three!
Good air circulation is critical to keeping plants healthy and productive. When air and sunlight can more easily reach a plant, it helps dry off excess moisture that can harbor mildew and other diseases. Pruning the bottom of your tomato plant allows better access to oxygen and improves airflow, which aids in pollination. Open plants allow pollinators and wind to more easily access blooms.
Adequate water is just as important for tomato plants. A thick mass of stems and leaves at the base can actually shed water away from the plant. By pruning your plants off the ground, water can more easily reach the root zone where it’s needed most.
How To Prune Tomatoes Up
As your tomato plants grow and mature, it’s important to trim off the bottom set of leaves and branches. When your plants are young, prune up so they have at least 4 to 6 inches of space above the soil.
As large indeterminate tomatoes reach full maturity, they should ideally have 12 to 18 inches of space between the ground and the lowest branches. For smaller varieties and determinate types, aim to prune up 8 to 12 inches from the ground at full maturity. This practice helps improve air circulation, reduce disease risk, and ensure better water management for healthier plants and more robust harvests.
Pruning up the lower parts of your tomato plants as they grow allows for better air circulation, more sunlight penetration, and improved water distribution to reach the plants more effectively. This practice is crucial for maintaining plant health, reducing the risk of diseases, and optimizing conditions for robust growth and fruitful harvests. By trimming away lower branches and leaves, you create a healthier environment for your tomato plants to thrive throughout their growth cycle.
