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do you pinch off the suckers on your Tomato plants?

Posted on 4/12/14 at 11:30 am
Posted by LSUlefty
Youngsville, LA
Member since Dec 2007
26455 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 11:30 am
I've never done it, but I'm starting this year because I planted more plants than usual and they're closer together. Is this an old wive's tale or does it really make a difference?
Posted by SouthLa.Tiger
Prarieville
Member since Jul 2005
133 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 11:43 am to
I used to but the last 2 years I haven't and the yield is better.
My plants are close together and they grow into each other and help support them; I also put a stake on each one but there is no need to tie branches as they support each other. I had 6 better boys last year and would have over 100 tomatoes on my counter for over a month. Mine are already over my knee and blossoms everywhere.
Posted by tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6847 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 11:44 am to
I do it. It makes the plants easier to maintain. I've done with and without suckers, and without is far easier to deal with. I have 70 plants this year, so I'll be busy pulling suckers.
Posted by 633tiger
Member since Jun 2007
1230 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 1:31 pm to
I always have bc that's how I was taught. My father in law doesn't. His yield is better but my tomatoes are bigger. We both plant celebrities, Amelia and better boy
Posted by LSUlefty
Youngsville, LA
Member since Dec 2007
26455 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 2:00 pm to
I planted creoles, amelia, romas, 1 Cherokee Purple, 2 cherry tomatoes, and some kind of yellow tomato that I'm trying for the hell of it.
Posted by GRIZZ
PRAIRIEVILLE
Member since Nov 2009
5230 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 2:53 pm to
A great childhood memory was my dad teaching me to pull suckers off of his tomato plants. Even the smell of a tomato brings back those memories. Finding Hornworms was fun as well. Now my kids are doing the same. (Sorry for the hijack )
Posted by Freebird11
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2011
142 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 4:52 pm to
Yes I just spent this morning doing that to my plants. Last year I just let the plants go and didn't pinch them back and the bushes grew huge and out of control but I got virtually no tomatoes so definitely keeping up with them this year.
Posted by LSUlefty
Youngsville, LA
Member since Dec 2007
26455 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 5:36 pm to
I figured by pinching them you can plant more and closer together. We'll see if it makes a difference.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 5:45 pm to
Pinch them and replant the suckers. They will grow.
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17261 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 5:50 pm to
If you pinch them off you will get fewer but bigger tomatoes, leave them on, more but smaller....same thing goes for staking a tomato vs using a cage, or so I have been told
Posted by Tiger 79
The Original Tiger 79
Member since Nov 2007
38042 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 10:16 pm to
Depending on the variety, you should pull the suckers off up to the first flower cluster. This is the way to prune determinate types ("ground type pole culture : Bella Rosa, BHN 981 and BHN 876, Carolina Gold, Celebrity (AAS) (N), Crista (N),
Floralina, Mountain Fresh Plus, Mountain Spring
Heat Tolerant: Florida 91, Heatwave II, Phoenix, Solar Set, Sun Leaper, Sun Master, Solar Fire,")

Indeterminates (pole type) should be prunes up the stalk (Better Boy, Creole, Big Boy, Beefsteak,Indeterminate: Better Boy (N), Big Beef (AAS) (N), Champion (N), Jet Star, Pink Girl, Sun Gold, Terrific etc)
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42568 posts
Posted on 4/12/14 at 10:25 pm to
70 plants. Dagum.

ETA:
Dagum.
This post was edited on 4/12/14 at 10:26 pm
Posted by lsuson
Metairie
Member since Oct 2013
12204 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 5:20 am to
I pull them off early. After you've harvested quite a few, I stop pulling them off as the plant matures and find I get more later on
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42568 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 8:20 am to
I planted 5. Yours is bigger than mine.
Posted by eng08
Member since Jan 2013
5997 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 8:37 am to
Tiger79, what does "should be pruned up the stalk" for indeterminate type mean in laymans terms?
Posted by Tiger 79
The Original Tiger 79
Member since Nov 2007
38042 posts
Posted on 4/13/14 at 9:00 am to
On the indeterminate varieties, you can pinch off "prune" the suckers all the way to the top of the vine, we use to grow indeterminate varieties but found a better fruit more yield comes from determinate (ground culture) plants. These plants were bred to grow on the ground and harvested with mechanical harvesters. But I would quit pruning indeterminate once you get a second cluster set of tomatoes and use the tops for protection of the sun.
Now with the "stake culture" way of staking the row ends, placing stakes every other plant and trellising the plant on both side with twine you can grow them successfully staked.

We have been growing these for years. These varieties tend to have superior genetics, more disease and crack resistant and yields are double the older, "stake varieties" with the same or better flavor.


BUT

DO NOT PINCH OFF the suckers once they get too big. You will stunt the plant thus decreasing production.


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