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Tomato Sucker

Tomato suckers are small shoots or leaflets that sprout in the… we’ll say “crook” between between a stem and a leaf branch of your tomato plant.

What are Tomato Suckers?

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Tomato Sucker

Prune all tomato suckers and leaf branches below the first set of tomato flowers on determinate and indeterminate tomato plants.

PRUNE

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Flower Buds

If you have a determinate plant, the fruit grows along the branches, so your plant will typically not need to be pruned, except for the intial pruning below the first set of flowers.

DON'T PRUNE

If you have tomato plants growing in smaller spaces, such as containers, pots or small raised beds.

PRUNE

If you want to be able to harvest tons and tons of fruits, then you’re going to leave the suckers to grow into new vines. More vines means more tomatoes, and lots of them.

DON'T PRUNE

If you like your tomatoes as big and beefy as possible, then you’ll want to pinch off the suckers to encourage your plant to channel all of its energy into producing larger fruit on its main stems.

PRUNE

Lettuce Grow Something designs, installs, and maintains kitchen gardens and coaches you on how to have a productive garden in the Austin, TX area. We also offer virtual design and coaching sessions for our friends who live far away. Our mission is to help everyone feel the joy and beauty of growing their own food.

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