Monty Don's tomato advice

[Nik]

I caught a bit of Gardeners World last week and Monty Don was pruning his tomato plants. I think he said that you should remove all the leaves below the first truss when it starts setting, and then when they have ripened remove leaves up to the next truss, and so on until there are no leaves left. I've not heard this advice before - is he right?

[Two_Sheds]

I tend to remove the leaves as they go yellow anyway ~ from the bottom up

At the end of the season it's useful to remove all the leaves to try and get as much sun on the fruit as poss

[Capsid]

Yes, commercial growers remove the lower leaves as the trusses form. They don't remove all the leaves as they never pinch the tops out.

[scarletrunner]

Doing this improves air circulation helping to prevent disease.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I usually end up with a near bare plant by seasons end.

Colin

[Alison]

I only remove ones which are either in the way or diseased and get loads of lovely sweet ripe fruits so will continue to do the same. I think you can become obsessed if you are too strict with when to do stuff.

[Hillwalker]

They [commercial growers] don't remove all the leaves as they never pinch the tops out.

You mentioned something similar a week or so ago, Mark. I thought the whole idea of topping tomato plants was to divert all the plant's energy into feeding the remaining lower trusses, which consequently were more likely to fully ripen?

[rustylady]

You mentioned something similar a week or so ago, Mark. I thought the whole idea of topping tomato plants was to divert all the plant's energy into feeding the remaining lower trusses, which consequently were more likely to fully ripen?

Yes, that's the idea. Plus we amateur growers tend to have unheated greenhouses, no artificial lighting and lower roofs than the commercial growers. I stop my toms when they reach the greenhouse roof (which they already have). I only take off leaves which are yellowing or diseased or just in the bl**** way.

[Snadger]

I only remove ones which are either in the way or diseased and get loads of lovely sweet ripe fruits so will continue to do the same. I think you can become obsessed if you are too strict with when to do stuff.

I think you're right Alison. I remember stripping the leaves one year and after I'd finished the poor plants looked so sorry for themselves I wished I could have put them back.
Now I only remove diseased leaves.

Horses for courses spose!

[Florence Fennel]

Only withered leaves here too, or in the way of ripening vines. I should be so lucky this year, doesn't look like I'll get many.

[Capsid]

You mentioned something similar a week or so ago, Mark. I thought the whole idea of topping tomato plants was to divert all the plant's energy into feeding the remaining lower trusses, which consequently were more likely to fully ripen?

The commercial growers have heated greenhouses, intense fertilisation and a long growing season. The plants can get to be 20-30 feet long, so they want to get as many trusses as possible.

ETA: and they pick the fruit unripe so the ripening process is not essential.

[arpoet]

I have always pinched lower leaves off.. a market gardener i knew advised me to do it improve airflow.
Roger

[Hillwalker]

The commercial growers have heated greenhouses, intense fertilisation and a long growing season. The plants can get to be 20-30 feet long, so they want to get as many trusses as possible.

20 - 30' sure is impressive!

[taff]

20 - 30' sure is impressive!

not when they taste of nothing it isn't

[perkin]

Well, I'm giving Monty's advice a go this year. My greenhouse will be easier to access if nothing else!