[barley]

I usually suffer with blight on my Toms so no need to de leaf as they fall off on their own 

but this year they are in a new greenhouse in a different area and are lovely and green and healthy 

I read some where you need to de leaf Toms - why does this need to be done and how ?

[dmg]

For what I understand it is just done lower down on the plant to help the bottom fruit get a bit of light and increase airflow.
I'm sure someone more experienced will correct me if I'm wrong.

Dmg

[compostqueen]

I've just taken off the lower leaves for now.

[Trillium]

I did mine last week - took off all the lower downward facing stems and a few big ones higher up that were causing congestion to air flow. Toms will always put out more leaves than they really need and now the energy can go to the fruit.

[Steveharford]

Came back from 2 weeks away, yesterday, to find mine had filled the pt to the degree that I could hardly get in. So the sun was never going to get to the fruit. I therefore took off most of the leaves from below about half way then about half the remaining ones. Still enough foliage for photosynthesis and now they also have air circulation and better exposure to the sun. They look happier somehow. I know that I am anyway :-)

[barley]

thankyou all

[compostqueen]

I worry about this as my mate never takes any off and he grows fab toms.  I saw toms in the greenhouse at Clumber and they were totally denuded of leaves, but that was later on in the season.  I might have another go at mine as I don't have many toms setting and there is a lot of congestion. Mind you I pack them in