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Growing Tomatoes

How do you know what part of the plant is a sucker

14 years ago

I have been growing tomatoes for some time and doing fairly well at it. I was recently told that if I cut the "suckers" back. I would have a better crop. How do I tell what is a "sucker", and what isn't? For those of you that trim your plants, what part do you trim, and how do you know it is the part you want to trim?

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Comments (6)

megpi
14 years ago
To sum up the debate before it starts, pinching suckers reduces overall yeild, increases maintenance, and may leave tomatoes vulnerable to sunscald, but allows plants to be spaced closer and possibly grow larger and be earlier. So not neccessarily 'better', depending on your needs. Since you have been successful not doing it maybe just do a few plants this year instead of rushing to do them all on someone elses word :)

Anyway, the sucker (real name, lateral branch) is the bit that grows out of the 'armpit' of a leaf branch and the stem, and looks like the growing tip does. I took this picture shamelessly off google image search, not mine.
jimm_sc
14 years ago
"Sucker" is a misnomer for lateral branches. These appear in the forks of the main stem.Â They do not "suck" energy or production from the plant.Â In fact they are an important productive part of the plant.Â The leaves produce food for the plant and these branches flower and produce fruit.Â You will get fewer fruit if you remove these branches although the fruit on the remaining plant may be larger.Â If you are growing vertically and training a single stem to climb, you would remove these and any other side shoots. If you remove too much foliage you may experience sun scald.Â Some who post here prune their plants. Some don't. I never have and have been happy with my results.Â You should try some of each and compare your yields and make your own decision.Good luck with your toms.
Jim
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megpi
14 years ago
I meant the fruit grow larger, not the plant.
digdirt2
14 years ago
Nice picture megpi !

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ - To Prune or Not to Prune
timmy1
14 years ago
Suckers grow between the main stem ant the lateral branches. The branches are round with a flat spot in the diameter and the suckers are just round. Sometimes they will throw a sucker slightly up the branch instead of right at the junction of the main stem and the branch.

In the photo below, notice the two suckers were pulled between the branches and the main stem.

Certain varieties will actually grow a sucker from the end of the flower cluster as well.
megpi
14 years ago
'Nice picture megpi !'

ACK! I did say it wasn't mine, it was off google image search. If only I could get my cheap digital point and click to work like my old-fashioned 35 mm SLR that is gathering dust... Now I feel all guilty. Gonna post a link to the blog it was from, since she takes pretty pictures and has beautiful gardens.

Here is a link that might be useful: Straight from the Garden

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