dubiousness : Should you cut the bottom leaves off tomato plant life ?
As a new Lycopersicon esculentum cultivator , you might be wondering whether it ’s a good idea to trim the lower foliage on your Lycopersicon esculentum plant . mayhap you ’ve find that some of the foliage near the floor of the plant life are yellow or looking unhealthy , and you ’re concerned about whether they might dissemble the rest of the works ’s outgrowth . You might also be curious about how pruning shock yield production or whether removing these leaves is necessary at all . With so much contradictory advice out there , it ’s natural to want some lucidness before extend to for the pruning shear .
ANSWER : Yes , you may and should cut the bottom leaves off tomato plants , but it ’s important to do so thoughtfully and at the right time . Once your tomato plants have grown to about 12 to 18 inches tall , you may notice that some of the honest-to-goodness folio near the base start to yellow or die back . This is perfectly normal because these lower leaves are no longer as of the essence for photosynthesis . Removing them can really benefit your plant by improving air circulation , reduce the risk of fungous disease , and airt the works ’s vigour toward producing healthy fruit .
When pruning , depart by focalize on the leaves below the first flower cluster . These are the prime that will finally educate into the first fruits , and shed light on away the low leaves helps the plant concentrate its energy on fruit production rather than maintain foliage it no longer needs . Removing these leaves also avail keep the base of the flora free from surplus wet , which can reduce the jeopardy of diseases like blight .
In increase to pruning lower leave , you may encounter“suckers , ” which are the small shoots that grow at the junction where a branch meets the main stem . Fordeterminate tomatovarieties , which rise to a define size and produce fruit all at once , pruning should be minimal . It ’s best to withdraw only discolored or dead leaves and suckers below the first flower bunch . However , for indeterminate tomato plant varieties , which continue raise and producing fruit throughout the time of year , more extensive pruning can be good . Removing patsy higher up the works can serve keep the plant doable and promote good gentle wind circulation and sunlight picture for the yield .
As you prune , make certain to use clean-living , sharp pruning shear or pair of scissors to avoid spreading disease between plants . Cleaning the blades with rub alcohol or a disinfectant between cutting is particularly important if you suspect any of your plants may be unhealthy . While pruning has many benefits , it ’s also indispensable not to overdo it . get rid of too many leaf can scupper the fruit to sunscald , so be trusted to provide enough foliage to provide tincture for the yield and let the plant to continue photosynthesis .
clip your Lycopersicon esculentum plant with care can lead to healthy growth , reduced peril of disease , and a more productive harvesting . If you ’re novel to pruning , bug out conservatively and take in how your plants reply . With time and practice , you ’ll realize confidence in orient your pruning overture to each variety , ensuring your tomato plants flourish throughout the produce time of year .
