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Suckers are buds that grow above every leaf node of tomato plants. They are present in every stage of growth but need to be removed to increase fruit quality. Pruning suckers off of tomatoes will greatly minimize their competition with the main stem in bearing fruits. This will concentrate fruit growth on the main stem leading to bigger and sweeter yields. However, pruning suckers off of tomatoes is dependent on the type of tomato grown. Based on their growth habits, tomatoes are classified into three types: determinate, semi-determinate, and indeterminate. The following paragraphs will discuss the guidelines in pruning suckers off of tomatoes according to type.
Determinate tomatoes like Mountain Fresh and Florida 91 are the small, compact, and bushy types. Pruning suckers off of tomatoes of this type starts from the bottom of the plant working upwards, except the one below the first flower cluster that is on the main stem. Sometimes, just the lowest suckers are removed, allowing up to two suckers below the said flower cluster to grow.
Semi-determinate tomatoes like Celebrity and Mountain pride grow fewer suckers than indeterminate types. Pruning suckers off of tomatoes like this will have to wait until the plant has grown 8 to 10 inches tall. Except the one immediately below, all suckers below the first flower cluster should be removed.
Pruning suckers off of tomatoes of determinate and semi-determinate types should be done when suckers reach a length between 2 and 4 inches. Pruning should be done before the first stringing and when the plants are dry to avoid the spread of diseases. Pruning suckers that are above the first flower cluster and the one immediately below it is a no-no since this will cause severe stunting.
Indeterminate types like Big Beef, Trust, and Big Boy produce the most suckers out of the three. If the plant is grown as a single stem, all suckers should be pruned off. In pruning suckers off of tomatoes grown with two stems, the sucker immediately below the first flower cluster is left behind to grow into another branch. Suckers should be removed only when they are 3 to 4 inches long.
Pruning suckers off of tomatoes can start when suckers become more visible to the eye. This usually happens when they are transplanted to pots or gallon containers. Transferring the plant prompts suckers to grow more rapidly, giving you the chance to remove them by hand or cut them with a knife. Pruning suckers off of tomatoes can be easy with they’ve grown to a few inches. Simply rubbing them off with pressure from the thumb finger will break them off.
When supported with stakes and cages, tomatoes can do well without sucker removal. However, a study made by the Utah State University in 2001 proved that pruning suckers off of tomatoes increases average fruit size. The more suckers removed, the greater the effect. Though the magnitude of the effect varies according to variety, the results remain the same.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about pruning and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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