Tomatoes - trimming leaves

[HelenH]

My greenhouse tomatoes (GArdeners Delight and Moneymaker) are doing really well. Plenty of fruit on but also an abundance of leaves. I'm concerned that the leaves may inhibit ripening of the fruit. I have pruned the leaves beneath the first trusses and was wondering if it is detrimental to the plants to trim off any more.

Thanks
Helen

[Chantal]

Hi Helen

I'm not sure whether you're supposed to thin the leaves out, but I always do, just to let some sunshine in there. So long as there are plenty left on the plant, I can't see a problem; I've never had one.

[retropants]

me too, mine always end up very top heavy, like a lolly-pop!

[Beryl]

I always remove the lower leaves to. I think it helps with air circulation and aids ripening in the greenhouse and outside to.

Beryl.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear HelenH, the arguement over defoliating Tomato plants has been going on for years.
It is probably more important to defoliate to some extent these days then it used to be, because most people grow the plants a lot closer then in years past.

I personally cut the leaves of to each truss as the tomatoes have just about reached their full size.