[Rampant_Weasel]

how long do u let the side branches get before trimming them?
im not talking about the shoots that grow in the angle but the actual lateral growths.

[mumofstig]

I don't trim them until right at the end of the season, to let more light in, when the last fruits needs ripening - they all make food for the plant 

[3759allen]

i trim the bottom ones when / if they die off naturally.

last year i did have to trim some of the lower green leaves to be able to water them. i think this was due to the stem slipping down the strings with the weight of the fruit. this year i'm twisting around the string to hopefully stop this happening.

the more green leaves you can leave the better it is for the plant in my opinion, just pinch out the side shoots.

[Steveharford]

I remove 3 or 4 of the lower branches to improve air circulation and so I can see how the watering system is doing. Also its easier to feed when everything is more open

[Rampant_Weasel]

some of mine are 3 feet long and tangling with the next plant :S

[3759allen]

my dad swears by removing the leaves from the first truss of tomatoes downwards when the first truss of tomatoes are formed. all of mine start dying of at roughly that time.

i would leave until they get un manageable. if they're hindering watering or air and light getting to the tomatoes then cut them or some of them off.

[cadalot]

I've cleared the bottom ones at home but not at the allotment yet.