Tomato leaves

[Glory B]

Is it okay to remove lower leaves of tomato plants?
These toms are in a container and I can't see the wood for the trees, if you know what I mean.
Also they have just formed the second truss...and the leaves above this seem to be curling inwards...is this a problem brewing or the normal thing?
Would appreciate your views,

Glory B.

[sandersj89]

I remove the lower leaves as they start to yellow, pulled on some this morning infact.

The curling of the top leaves is pretty normal I believe.

HTH

Jerry

[oldherbaceous]

My dear Glory B, it would be a pleasure to try and answer your questions.
Sounds like you may have planted them a little close together old girl. Maybe you could just cut some of the lower leaves, from where the plants are touching each other if you see what i mean.
As for the curling leaves it is just this sunny weather, so i wouldn't concern youself about it.
It will not affect the cropping of the plants.
So there you have it.

Kind regards the Herbal remedy.

Never above you, never below you, but always beside you.

[Chantal]

Am I right in thinking that plants curl their leaves up to reduce transpiration in the hot sunshine and then unfurl them again when it cools down?

I hope that's what some of mine are doing!

[Glory B]

Jerry, the lower leaves aren't yellow but I've cut them off anyway. Just as well cos I found more plantlets growing from main stem....which I am going to root up and grow on as bush toms. Ha!
As for my dear Herbal (remedy) I think you are right they do seem a bit close together, although I was advised by a member of the forum (can't remember who at the moment)that they would be okay.
Although it could just be that they've flourished out of all control due to the tender loving care they've been given!
Shall do as you say and cut 'touching' leaves back.
And Chantal, thanks, at least I'm not on my own with curly leaves.

Many thanks,
Glory B

[oldherbaceous]

My dear Glory B, your quite right, it was i that advised you to put three plants in your containers.
What i hadn't allowed for was the fact that you have given your plants such tender loving care that they have flourished out of all expectation, a truly amazing achievment on your part.
I hope you put your canes in at an outward angle, to allow for such spectacular specimens.
How many trusses do you think you will allow, before you pinch the tops?
I think you will be out buying some ten foot canes at this rate.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

[Wellie]

Hi Glory B !

It's perfectly OK to remove the lower leaves of your tomato plants below first set trusses if they're yellowing, as they won't be serving any particular purpose, and will begin to wither and harbour disease if not removed.
Don't be tempted to remove any further foliage until 'absolutely necessary' if you get my drift.

My tomato plants tend to curl their leaves when they begin to flower (every year it happens, and it's nothing to do with too low a temperature as some would have you believe...)

Glad it's all going so well now.
Best wishes,
Wellie

[Johnboy]

Hi Wellie,
May I respectfully suggest you read (as some would have you believe's) posting again. A further comment is not really necessary 'cos you'll only blast my ears off!!
Sincerely,
Johnboy.

[Glory B]

Oh dear...well....I did as Herbal said and cut back 'touching' leaves.
But then I came back here to read Wellie's post saying not to remove any further foliage unless 'absolutely necessary'.....what's a gal to do?
Well I've already gone and done it haven't I?
Thanks for your best wishes Wellie...I'm sure they'll be okay.

As for my dearest remedial Herbal....yes you did say to arrange canes at an outward angle...I forgot this bit but have gone and 'remedied' it now.
How many trusses you ask before the big pinch?.....well I was thinking at least 8 or 9....or do you think that might be stretching it a bit?

Bestest regards from Glory B.

[oldherbaceous]

My dear Glory B, your tomatoes will come to no harm by you cutting some leaves off, since they are growing strongly. Infact it will let a bit of air between the plants, which is a good thing.
I have been thinking about when you should stop your tomatoes, one point it may pay to think about is how tall you are, you don't want to be picking tomatoes using a step ladder.

Kind regards the Old Herbaceous.

We will always get some sort of weather.

[vivie veg]

Toms can take 8 weeks from setting to picking...so I would 'Stop' the plants in early August (if outside) and you should be picking toms to the end of September. Indoors you might want to wait another month or so before 'stopping' depending on your local weather and heating in the greenhouse.

[Johnboy]

Hi Glory B,
I have always reduced the size of the leaves below a set truss and have never had any difficulty and I feel that the ventilation that this permits is a step against the dreaded blight. I have been fortunate and have never had blight. (hope I'm not speaking too soon)
As a truss is ripening I remove the leaves below.
I stop plants growing outside at 5 trusses and those under cover I never bother to stop at all.
Late tomatoes, the very small ones, I have even picked on Christmas Day which were wonderfully sweet. I must confess that outside Tomatoes here are generally grown with Green Tomato Chutney in mind so if you want fully ripened fruits probably the plants should be stopped at four trusses.

[Glory B]

Dearest Herbal....yes I think they will be better off for the 'cut-back' they received yesterday. It also allowed me to spot a slimy trail, surely 'they' (slugs/snails) aren't partial to tomato leaves as well as everything else?
As for stopping them, I shall be sensible (leaving the step-ladder where it is) and take Viv and Johnboy's advice. Mind you Johnboy...the green chutney sounds delicious...but whether I'd ever actually get round to making it is another thing.
I do have some tom plants growing singly in buckets...no problems whatsoever at the moment (fingers crossed) so this will be the way for me to go next year.

Many thanks,
Glory B

[newatallthis]

For those of us who are new to this game could someone tell me.

Whats a truss? and how do 'stop' tomatoes?

Many thanks
newatallthis

[sandersj89]

A truss is the side shoot that forms from the stem of the plant and carries the flowers and then the fruit. When you hear about people saying the truss has set it means the flowers have been pollinated and small fruit have appeared.

To stop the plant means to remove the growing tip so they divert their energies into fruit rather than more vegetative growth. Outdoor toms are stopped at anything between 3 and 6 trussed and indoor can be left alone but I stop mine when they reach the apex of the greenhouse, about 8 trusses.

Stopping also means things ripen earlier so you run a reduced risk of disease problems.

HTH

Jerry