That's what most of my tomatoes look like, but I've been watering them faithfully. It's just too hot here--we've had 100+ weather for about three weeks and I expect it to stay that way for another month at least.

You don't say what zone you're in, so that might not be your problem, but I wouldn't necessarily blame it on your helper.

Is it possible you have spider mites? They love the hot weather and suck all the juices out of the leaves--that could explain some of the browning as well.

i don't trust people water my plants when go on vacation. I have set automatic water timers attached to ooze hoses

Trim off the dead leaves,and water real well,hope for the best but dont trim off ANY suckers

What Dickie said.
The only plant parts I remove from determinates are leaves that are touching the soil or damaged/diseased leaves.

Ok, I'm in California (Long Beach) ... Zone 10.

I'm brand new to all this gardening stuff. This year was my first year ever to grow anything and I'm making tons of mistakes (but learning). The entire idea of even growing a garden was sort of a joking challenge on behalf of my wife.

I did not trim suckers off my tomato plants at all until I read a couple of articles and saw a you tube video ... and this guy said, "I want to grow tomatoes, not tomato plants."

So I started trimming suckers off my tomato plants ... to the point I was afraid I would kill the plant.

OMG!!!!! My plants went crazy ... they exploded on me with the tomatoes, they are shooting out all over the damned place. In the picture below, that plant right there (and that's just one) is only about 4 feet high, its growing into my jalapeno plants, into my artichokes ... my cage can't support it (I got it tied off about 4 ways to Sunday) ... you can see all the tomatoes on the plant and that's just on that side ... and ... I've probably gotten 20 tomatoes off that plant already.

I totally underestimated everything about these tomato plants!

But regardless, I am a convert now about trimming suckers off my plant, if it doesn't have hair and its not growing up ... it gets pruned off.

BTW, I'm using Ferry Morris Beefmaster, Hybrid seeds (my wife picked up on sale at Rite-Aid) that I grew from seed in a dixie-cup starting back in February ... and I moved em into the ground towards the end of March and just started watering.

I didn't even think the silly things would grow, it was just dirt I scraped the grass off of and broke up (I did stir in some potting soil left over ... a little more then half a bag).

We're getting tomatoes the size of my fist (some larger, some smaller). We already have had BLT's several times, gave away tomatoes, had em on our burgers and salads, and made a pot of home-made spaghetti sauce that fed 6.

I'm like totally blown away ... its like jack and the bean-stalk!

{{gwi:1360961}}

I'm zone 5a, for the record. It sure doesn't get 100 here :P...

The plants are looking a little better except for a couple that look like they're doomed. I did as a couple of you suggested and left on the suckers and have started removing the really dried out leaves-- the ones that have actually turned crinkly brown.

Zinderin: I recognize that removing suckers can be really beneficial. I'm just afraid since they're the only green I've still got on some of my plants ): It's my first year too, btw. Your tomatoes look great (:

Zinderin, the OP is growing a dwarf cherry tomato, a determinate variety...

Here is a link that might be useful: tomato FAQs

Zinderin, good job there on growing tomatoes, I am patiently waiting for some 24 tomato plants, all heirloom big varities to explode. how did you post picture here?

Nice job Zinderin

Have a little fun next year and prune one while leaving another unpruned. Just be sure to get a bigger/better cage (be sure to get a tall one for the pruned plant).

FWIW, I too like to get my seeds at the dollar stores. They seem to work just fine for me.