Tomato Suckers: To Remove or Not to Remove

Do you remove tomato suckers from your tomato plants? There are different schools of thought on whether or not it makes sense to remove tomato suckers. Joe Lamp'l shows how and why he removes some but not all of the suckers on his tomato plants.
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[@donwalls8192]

I rooted a couple suckers and now I have 3 nice sweet 100s. I’m a brown thumb gardener so getting something to grow like that is great! I also tried the slice of tomato in potting soil and got salad tomato from a grocery store tomato. Lots of fun.

[@thecrock1975]

This is a great video and answered my question perfectly. I learned to remove the suckers (we call them "laterals" in Australia) as a kid when my Nana was teaching me about the tomato plants, but I never really knew why... I also didn't realise I could propagate a new plant that will bear fruit, from a sucker. : ) Thanks very much Joe! All the best.

[@joegardenerTV]

Well I'm so glad to hear this was helpful to you! Thanks for the good words! Everytime I remove a sucker (lateral - thanks for the new term for that), I can't help myself but I have to propagate it. But it's such an easy way to make a new clone of that parent!

[@MattBean-om3qq]

It’s quite hardy too! Tomato’s have a neat trick where they can grow roots on any part of their stem. Throw them suckers in a mason jar of water after they get to be about 4-6 inches long, and they’ll sprout roots in 9ish days, leave them indirect/shady area during that time, then gradually move them to direct. You can stick them straight in the ground from there, but usually better to put them in a larger starter pot, then transfer them tog round

[@juneshannon8074]

An other great, concise commonsense video. Thanks Joe.🇦🇺

[@hootnannyhomestead8338]

That’s exactly what I do, thanks for explaining it so well to everyone

[@jenniferbrown917]

I'm glad I didn't take off my suckers this year because it has been so hot that most of my heirlooms dropped all their blossoms. I need them to keep producing those blossoms again!

[@robbiekw1]

very well done, good information and 'to the point" - just what I was looking for

[@jonilj1968]

Thank you for this! It never made sense to me to remove suckers when they can produce fruit. I understand that air flow is necessary and that leaves help photosynthesis. I decided to do a little experiment last year--instead of removing the suckers, I removed many of the leaves on the interior of the tomato plant and left the suckers. This was on a salad tomato (Jaune Flamme) and it was SO productive--it was my best-producing tomato plant!

[@mywoolmitten]

Simple, common sense, to the point. Excellent and very helpful, thank you 😊

[@bettyjorodgers8552]

Great information!! Thanks

[@johnjude2685]

I'm been testing the triming believe in what you are doing., I tried the clips and string system and two main branches don't think I will do that string system next season but have T post and use the heavy weld construction wire for cement foundation it has about 6" square in the opening easy to stick the tomato into. Yes good teaching here, Seems like I said that to you many times Thanks

[@GodwinMarketing]

With our short growing season in North Idaho, I leave as many suckers as I can with the idea of getting as much fruit as I can off of the plant. That said, I agree with Joe, you also need to allow air and light to get to the plant, so I do prune out suckers if it's getting too crowded.

[@CharitysClarity]

Same I have had very bad outcomes every year I take the suckers off in most areas. I no longer do this I’d rather not plant 100 tomatoes just so they grow up an easier, I’m good with bushy they get sun and give me a much much larger harvest in my opinion

[@lightdestiny7]

Exactly!❤

[@2011Maynard]

I enjoy your videos and your show - always great and easy to understand and follow help.... Keep It Going and Keep It Growing...

[@joegardenerTV]

Thank you! I sure will. Thanks for watching and for the nice comment!

[@mechele4848]

👋 🍅 love from Michigan!

[@ericn9175]

Great video Joe!

[@joegardenerTV]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!

[@recklessnova9490]

Thanks for the video! Very informative 👍

[@joegardenerTV]

You're very welcome. I glad you found that helpful!

[@connordoyle5930]

First time gardener and went all out haha all plants look healthy and using cold pressed neem oil for any insects/fungus. One question: should I definitely take out branches that are at soil level since they won't get as much sun? Replant them as well right? Thanks buddy 👍😃

[@nanad6871]

Great tomato cages. Did you make those and is there a video on process? Everything I’ve tried does not hold up weight of plants.

[@joegardenerTV]

Here is the how-to information for those tomato cages. joegardener.com/video/the-ultimate-tomato-cage-in-5-simple-steps/

[@nancyk8153]

I always end up with powdery mildew because were so humid and get a lot of rain. What can I do as a preventative?

[@teleguy5699]

Spray Neem, or other fungicide, or grow them in a hoop house to keep the rain off.

[@heidihyndman]

For me, it depends on how I'm growing them. I'm growing my indeterminates staked, close together, in raised beds, so I like to prune them to a single stem (no suckers), but I like to let my determinates bush out (suckers allowed!). So it's a space issue, mainly. But I will always prune for airflow if needed...and of course, prune off the lower leaves to keep the dirt from spreading diseases like blight.

[@tammyrea8781]

Can you remove leaves instead of suckers to make room?

[@joegardenerTV]

You can but that may not be the best thing for the health of the plant. Suckers will emerge from every leaf axil so you can end up with many, many suckers that will continue to crowd out the plant. By removing just leaves, you open the branches up to entry points for diseases and it will take a good bit of trimming to open it up enough for improved light and air circulation.

[@caseyterry9888]

Can you remove them if they already have flowers?

[@joegardenerTV]

Sure. Not an issue at all. Just keep in mind, all suckers can produce fruit so if they’re flowering, those are likely going to mature with fruit. But there’s no harm to take them off any time.

[@Aussiehomestead1965]

My grandpa used to say.. You're growing tomatoes not leaves. Remove the suckers and plant them for more free plants.