Tomato plants - leaves growing at the end of trusses - is this normal?

[Russel Sprout]

Hi

Back with another tomato question!

I have the occasional truss which has a stem/branch (with leaves) growing out of the end of it. Is this normal? And should it be left or snipped?

Many thanks

Max

[Bren In Pots]

It happens to my toms as well I just snip them of, not sure what the correct thing to do is though, I just think there looks enough leaves on the plants as it is.

[Jay-ell]

Are these beefsteak? I had it a lot with the beefsteak toms.

[Russel Sprout]

Thanks for the replies.

Jay-ell - no, they're cherries. At least that's what the packets said anyhow! The green toms that are on there now look larger than your regular cherry toms... Not that I'm complaining

[veggiechicken]

What variety are they, Max?

[Russel Sprout]

I'm growing four different varieties....

- Black cherry
- Sungold
- Red Alert
- Gardener's Delight

I'll check them all over in a bit to see whether they're all doing it or just some.

Many thanks

[Thelma Sanders]

It happens to my toms as well I just snip them of, not sure what the correct thing to do is though, I just think there looks enough leaves on the plants as it is.

I do the same

[burnie]

I only remove leaves/stems if they are acting as sunshades, the rest I leave including on the ends.

[Zelenina]

I had this happen with some Chadwick Cherry plants a couple of years ago. I left them alone just to see what would happen, and one of them even produced a second truss of tomatoes on the end of the first one.

[ESBkevin]

Leaves are not a problem generally but sometimes a sideshoot will form and suck growth from the fruit, in the latter case they are pinched off.

It's not uncommon but not every plant will have a truss bearing an additional leaf.

[Russel Sprout]

I only remove leaves/stems if they are acting as sunshades, the rest I leave including on the ends.

Wow - if I were to do that I don't think there'd be many leaves left!!! Most of my toms are in shade; some quite thick shade.

Thanks burnie, and to everyone also for the helpful replies.

[68lbs]

Ah, glad I spotted this thread. One of my varieties is doing the same on a couple of trusses. Gardener's Delight I think it is... was just a packet of freebie seeds. I was debating today whether to cut them off, but haven't.

I also have an issue where I keep finding a really long shoot (say 2'-3' long) only to trace it back and find it's grown up from the base of the plant - presumably from the bit of stem that is earthed up in the halo. I snip these off!

[BUFFS]

When you think of the amount of sideshoots we remove, all that growing power has to produce some strong growth and so they add growth on the ends of trusses, it has to go somewhere if it exceeds what the toms need, I just snip them off..

[burnie]

I have a Gardeners Delight and a Moneymaker that have done this, removed one and left the other, just looking at the plant and decided what I thought the plants needed to flourish.

[bramble]

To be honest, I go by my own rules.
I look at the plant and then make a decision.
If its a vigorous grower and its healthy then I will leave a couple of side shoots.