Is there any benefit in this?

Sorry to put two questions in quick succession but, I've been reading posts which mention removing the lower leaves from tomato plants and wonder if anyone can explain this for me.

My neighbour, a very sprightly 98 year old, went 'into service' at the age of 14 as an apprentice gardener and, apart from a break during WWII, he remained a gardener all his working life. Although he now has a man come in to mow, dig and weed, he still refuses to allow anyone near his greenhouse tomatoes since he maintains 'you youngsters ... no idea'!

Watching him and hoping to shamelessly pick up some tips, I notice that once the leaves on his tomatoes reach anything over about 8" long he cuts all but the top 5 or so leaves in half with a pair of scissors. Of course I've asked him why, thinking it was to allow air circulation, encourage the plant to put more in forming fruit, discourage pests/disease, allow the sun to get at the fruit or any one, or combination, thereof but all he's said is, 'Dunno luv, it's what we was always told and there'd be 'ell to pay from head gardener if we didn't.'

At first sight, his plants - which he now grows in grobags (his one concession to his age) 3 plants to a bag - don't appear any different from anyone else's except .... he always allows one side shoot to develop on each plant thus they have 2 stems and each of those stems is allowed to develop at least 6 trusses before he 'stops' them. He always has a good crop, the tomatoes themselves are 'full size' - about 2 - 2½" in diameter and I know he's growing Moneymaker and Shirley because I took him to buy them.

Has anyone else heard of this cutting back the leaves, or do it? Or is there some 'secret potion' he feeds his tomatoes with when no-one is around?

 

Hi Fidgetsmum. I cut some of my leaves pretty much in half when they get large. TBH, I can't say why I do this Maybe it's in the back of my mind to allow plenty of air around the plants, or that the plant doesn't need all that leaf, or that it makes it easier to keep my eyes on the developing tomatoes. It's more of a hunch....really.
Cheers...freddy.

 

Yes I do the same but really when the leaves start to discolour. Just cut out the bad bit as it were. I suppose it must allow more nutrients into the fruit and at the same time aerate the plants, also cutting down on places where our arch enemies the slug and snail can hide!
Love the name 'Fidgetsmum'!!
John

 

WOW 98 and still an avid gardener
thats impressive!

 

There is an argument that cutting off leaves or even taking out the side shoots, lets the blight spores in.

.....but on the other hand, letting the sunlight getting to the ripening fruit is a good thing. As with lots of things in gardening, there's no right and wrong, just different ways of doing things!

There will also be a secret potion he'll be putting on ... most of us use the bottled stuff from the garden centre... but these old boys and girls always have a secret recipe..... something smelly made from nettles and comfrey!

 

Have to agree with you all . I remove bottom leaves up to about half way up the plant at this time of year.Air circulation is very important as chronicled by a one armed polish immigrant living in the US