What is a Tomato Plant Sucker?

Tomatoes are one of the most popular plants grown in home gardens. They are easy to grow, produce delicious fruit, and require minimal maintenance. However, tomato plants can sometimes develop suckers, which can cause confusion for gardeners. So, what exactly is a tomato plant sucker?

Understanding Tomato Plant Suckers

A sucker on a tomato plant is an offshoot that grows from the joint between the stem and a leaf. These offshoots are sometimes referred to as “suckers” because they “suck” the energy from the main stem, diverting valuable nutrients and water away from the fruit-bearing part of the plant.

Tomato plant suckers can grow rapidly and become large, bushy branches that can hinder the growth of the main stem. In some cases, suckers can even rob the plant of enough nutrients to negatively impact the fruit yield.

The Pros and Cons of Removing Tomato Plant Suckers

Gardeners can choose to either remove or leave tomato plant suckers. Each option has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Removing Suckers:

Removing suckers can help to conserve energy and resources, allowing the plant to direct all of its growing power to the main stem and fruit-bearing branches.

Removing suckers can also help to maintain the shape and structure of the plant, making it easier to manage and harvest.

However, removing suckers can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Leaving Suckers:

Leaving suckers can help to increase the overall size and leaf coverage of the plant, providing more shade and protection for the fruit.

Leaving suckers can also result in a larger number of fruit clusters and total fruit yield.

However, leaving suckers can also result in a less manageable and less structured plant, making it more difficult to access the fruit and providing more surface area for pests and diseases to thrive.

Tips for Managing Tomato Plant Suckers

If you choose to remove tomato plant suckers, there are a few tips that can help to make the process easier and more effective:

Use a clean pair of scissors or pruning shears to make clean, precise cuts when removing suckers.

Remove suckers when they are young and small, as larger, more established suckers can be more difficult to remove and more likely to cause damage to the plant.

Consider removing only the bottom suckers, which are most likely to divert nutrients away from the main stem.

In conclusion, tomato plant suckers are offshoots that can develop on the joint between the stem and a leaf. They can either be removed or left to grow, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. By understanding how to manage tomato plant suckers, gardeners can help to improve the overall health and yield of their plants.