Can I Keep the Suckers on My Tomato Plant?

If you grow tomatoes, you may have heard the term "suckers" before. Suckers are the small shoots that grow in between the stem and the branch of your tomato plant. While they might seem like a nuisance or something that needs to be removed, there is some debate over whether or not you should keep them on your tomato plant. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of keeping suckers on tomato plants.

Pros of Keeping Suckers

One of the main arguments for keeping suckers on tomato plants is that they can actually increase the yield of your plant. Suckers can develop into branches that bear fruit, which means more tomatoes for you to harvest. Additionally, keeping suckers on your plant can help to increase the overall size of the plant, which can be beneficial if you're trying to maximize the amount of tomatoes you get from a limited amount of space.

Another argument for keeping suckers is that they can help to provide support for your plant. As your tomato plant grows, it can become top-heavy and start to lean to one side. By keeping suckers on the plant, you can help to distribute the weight of the plant more evenly and prevent it from toppling over.

Cons of Keeping Suckers

While there are some benefits to keeping suckers on tomato plants, there are also some drawbacks to consider. For one, suckers can take away valuable resources from the rest of the plant. This can result in smaller, less flavorful fruit. Additionally, if you let too many suckers grow, your plant can become overcrowded and start to compete for sunlight and water, which can be detrimental to its overall health and harvest.

Another problem with keeping suckers is that they can increase the risk of disease for your plant. Suckers are more vulnerable to pests and diseases than the rest of the plant, which means that they are more likely to become infected with something that could spread to the rest of the plant.

So, Should You Keep the Suckers on Your Tomato Plant?

The answer to this question ultimately depends on your personal preferences and growing style. Some people swear by keeping suckers on their tomato plants, while others prefer to prune them off. If you decide to keep the suckers on your plant, just make sure to monitor the plant closely and trim off any excess growth as needed. This will help to keep your plant healthy and productive throughout the growing season.

Overall, whether or not you keep the suckers on your tomato plant is a matter of personal preference. While there are arguments for both sides, the important thing is to take good care of your plant and give it the best chance to produce healthy, delicious fruit.