What do sucker leaves look like on a tomato plant?

Tomatoes are a popular vegetable to grow in home gardens, and they require a certain amount of maintenance to ensure they produce healthy fruit. One of the tasks that gardeners must perform is pruning the tomato plant, specifically removing the sucker leaves. Sucker leaves are small branches that grow between a stem and a branch or between two branches. But what do sucker leaves look like on a tomato plant?

Identifying sucker leaves

Sucker leaves can be identified by their placement on the tomato plant. They grow where the stem meets a branch or where two branches join together. They are smaller than the main branches, and they usually only have a few leaves growing from them. Sometimes they will also have flowers or small fruit growing on them.

The leaves of the sucker branches may be smaller than the main leaves of the plant, but they will still look similar to the rest of the leaves. They will be green and slightly curved with pointed tips. The edges of the leaves will be slightly serrated, and the veins will be visible on both sides of the leaf.

Why remove sucker leaves?

There are a few reasons why gardeners choose to remove sucker leaves from a tomato plant. One reason is to increase air circulation and sunlight to the main branches of the plant. This helps prevent disease and encourages the fruit to grow larger and ripe quicker.

Another reason is to help the plant focus its energy on producing fruit rather than growing extra leaves and branches. Sucker branches can divert energy away from the main branches, which can cause the plant to produce less fruit.

How to remove sucker leaves

Removing sucker leaves is a relatively easy task. Simply locate the sucker branch and use pruning shears or your fingers to pinch off the branch. It is important to remove the branch as close to the main stem or branch as possible to prevent leaving a stub that could attract insects or disease.

It is also important to remove sucker leaves regularly throughout the growing season. This helps keep the plant focused on producing fruit and helps prevent the spread of disease.

In conclusion

Sucker leaves are small branches that grow between a stem and a branch or between two branches on a tomato plant. They can be identified by their placement on the plant and their smaller size. Removing sucker leaves helps increase air circulation and sunlight to the main branches, encourages larger fruit production and helps prevent disease. Gardeners can remove sucker leaves by locating the branch and using pruning shears or their fingers to pinch off the branch. Removing sucker leaves regularly throughout the growing season will help keep the plant healthy and productive.