When to Sucker Tomato Plants

Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables to grow in a home garden. They are delicious, nutritious, and fun to grow. However, growing tomatoes can be a bit tricky. One of the most important things to do in order to get the best yield from your plants is to sucker them. But when is the best time to do this?

What Are Suckers?

Suckers are new growth that appears between the stem and a branch of a tomato plant. They are also called "side shoots" or "axillary shoots." If left alone, suckers can grow into new branches, and eventually take over the plant. This can lead to a reduction in fruit production, as the plant will be putting more energy into producing new growth instead of producing fruit. Suckers can also make the plant more susceptible to disease, as they can create a dense canopy that does not allow for adequate air circulation.

When to Remove Suckers?

The best time to remove suckers from your tomato plants is when they are small and easy to manage. This is typically around a week after they appear. You can gently pinch the sucker off with your fingers or use scissors to remove it. It is important to remove the entire sucker, so that it does not grow back. If you wait too long to remove suckers, they can become woody and difficult to remove.

Why Remove Suckers?

There are several reasons why it is important to remove suckers from your tomato plants. First, it helps to maintain the shape of the plant, which can improve fruit production. When a tomato plant has too many branches, it can become top-heavy and bend or break under the weight of the fruit. Removing suckers helps to keep the plant balanced. Second, it improves the quality of the fruit by allowing more nutrients to go to the remaining branches. Third, it can help to prevent disease by improving air circulation.

Conclusion

In summary, removing suckers from your tomato plants is an important part of maintaining healthy and productive plants. The best time to remove suckers is when they are small and easy to manage. Suckers can cause a reduction in fruit production and make the plant more susceptible to disease. Removing them can help to maintain the shape of the plant, improve the quality of the fruit, and prevent disease.