Suckers on tomato plants

[mom2manyboyz]

I was taught the same thing, to break off the sucker branch while it is small.

There may be some truth to what you said about propagating the sucker branch after it is bigger. But, what about the nutrients it is stealing from the main plant while you let it grow? Here is my story about why I think you can propagate a new tomatoe plant from a branch:

Last year, I was leaving the nursury after purchasing a new tomatoe plant. We had strong winds that day and I heard a snap from the plant. I was concerned I had broken my tomatoe plant at the base, but when I looked I could not see a break. The nursury owner said to make sure that I heaped plenty of dirty around the base when planting it and it would "heal." That makes me think they will root in dirt for propagation.

[Green-Moo]

Yes it is often advised to take out suckers when they are small. I suppose it all depends on how much space versus how much time you have. I have lots of space and little time so I just let them grow. I might get a slightly lower yield per plant, but I'm very satisfied with what I get nonetheless. I also find that the extra foliage shades the fruit, meaning that I don't have to worry about full sun.

[mom2manyboyz]

Yes, me too green-moo. I've heard that you are supposed to break off the suckers, but usually only do it in the beginning when the plant is small and I am still fussing over my garden. Once the plants are growing well, I rarely remember or bother to do this. I'm usually trying to keep up with picking and canning my tomatoes at that point.

[tater03]

I have heard that you should break them off but I have never done it. But I always still seem to have an abundance of tomatoes still.

[justjoy]

I think we all learned to break the suckers off because they impact fruit yield. Over the years I've done both - break them off, other years haven't and I've really not noticed a huge difference in yield.

[tater03]

Honestly if I had more time I would break them off but I barely get the garden weeded as it is. Hopefully this summer I will have more time to deal with my garden this year. I hoping.

[Serenity]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I think this year I might at least let one grow a large sucker and try planting it.

Last year, I was leaving the nursury after purchasing a new tomatoe plant. We had strong winds that day and I heard a snap from the plant. I was concerned I had broken my tomatoe plant at the base, but when I looked I could not see a break. The nursury owner said to make sure that I heaped plenty of dirty around the base when planting it and it would "heal." That makes me think they will root in dirt for propagation.

mom, that was probably a sucker you heard snapping because I was reading that when they get to that size, they'll snap off cleanly. If there's lots of messy rough edges with fibers, it wasn't a sucker apparently.

I'm always up for experimenting in the garden - thanks again for the input!