should i trim these

Wvuarmyeng · July 1, 2015

should I remove this growth?? it looks to me like a sucker, never had them do this before, but I also have never grown these type of maters before either

rhines81 · July 1, 2015

Looking at your top picture (with my head cocked to the left) ... yes it looks like a big sucker out of control.

Gardeneer · July 1, 2015

I would definitely prune . Looks like a jungle to me. Need some air movement around and within the plant to minimize fungal disease probability. A lot of the growth inside and in the shade make very little contribution to photosynthesis but get fare share of the nutrients/energy.
JMO

squirrel789 · July 2, 2015

Are those tomatoes growing out of the base of the branch you are asking about?

It kind of looks like it in the bottom pic, but its hard to tell with what appears to be a top in the way.

I wonder because I have a blossom cluster, that set fruit, that is now continuing on to grow a foliage branch out of the top of the cluster. Maybe I'm totally misreading the pics. However, if what I am asking is correct is the suggestion still to prune? Surely after the tomato cluster though, right?

Sorry if I am totally misunderstanding this one.

zipcode · July 2, 2015

Seems like a sucker growing at the end of a flower cluster. Fairly common. Cut it.

CamuMahubah · July 2, 2015

I just hear a SNIP..

Wvuarmyeng · July 2, 2015

Yea it's growing out the end of the cluster. Never seen that before looks like I got some trimming to do. I meant to get a better pic yesterday

I have the bottom of the plants open and trim out all bad lookin stuff off. I haven't had a problem yet growing this close but I do check them everyday.

Anthony_Toronto · July 2, 2015

No of course not. Sure you want to have enough airflow in the plant to try to avoid disease-causing moisture, but all that removing side stems (or 'suckers') does is reduce production and increase the chance that fruits will be sunburned.

digsdirt · July 2, 2015

Should you? I wouldn't.

It sure isn't hurting anything and is a fairly common growth pattern.

Can you? If you want. It is your plant.

Dave

July 1, 2015	#2
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	Looking at your top picture (with my head cocked to the left) ... yes it looks like a big sucker out of control. Last edited by rhines81; July 1, 2015 at 09:52 PM. Reason: changed right to left ... I still can't tell the difference sometimes!

July 2, 2015	#9
digsdirt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: No.Central Arkansas - 6b/7a Posts: 179	Should you? I wouldn't. It sure isn't hurting anything and is a fairly common growth pattern. Can you? If you want. It is your plant. Dave __________________ Dave

July 1, 2015	#3
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	I would definitely prune . Looks like a jungle to me. Need some air movement around and within the plant to minimize fungal disease probability. A lot of the growth inside and in the shade make very little contribution to photosynthesis but get fare share of the nutrients/energy. JMO

July 2, 2015	#4
squirrel789 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: SW Missouri Zone 6b Posts: 121	Are those tomatoes growing out of the base of the branch you are asking about? It kind of looks like it in the bottom pic, but its hard to tell with what appears to be a top in the way. I wonder because I have a blossom cluster, that set fruit, that is now continuing on to grow a foliage branch out of the top of the cluster. Maybe I'm totally misreading the pics. However, if what I am asking is correct is the suggestion still to prune? Surely after the tomato cluster though, right? Sorry if I am totally misunderstanding this one.

July 2, 2015	#5
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Seems like a sucker growing at the end of a flower cluster. Fairly common. Cut it.

July 2, 2015	#6
CamuMahubah Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Alliance Nebraska Posts: 169	I just hear a SNIP..

July 2, 2015	#7
Wvuarmyeng Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: connellsville, pa Posts: 22	Yea it's growing out the end of the cluster. Never seen that before looks like I got some trimming to do. I meant to get a better pic yesterday I have the bottom of the plants open and trim out all bad lookin stuff off. I haven't had a problem yet growing this close but I do check them everyday.

July 2, 2015	#8
Anthony_Toronto Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 413	No of course not. Sure you want to have enough airflow in the plant to try to avoid disease-causing moisture, but all that removing side stems (or 'suckers') does is reduce production and increase the chance that fruits will be sunburned.