[Vitoria plum]

i read in a book or mag cant remember exactly, that if you took most of the leaves off a tomato plant, it would produce more toms, well last year i though i would give it a go, only on a couple of plants (just left on about six)but i never have seen the results as all the toms got blight, has any one tryed this before

[woodburner]

I don't see how. The leaves are the source of the plant's energy, getting rid of most of them will surely stop the tomatoes ripening, as there won't be enough sugar produced. If they're not ripe, what does it matter if you've got more of them?

[lincspoacher]

you need to remove side shoots on tomato plants because they produce all leaves and no fruit, but apart from that the plant needs its leaves.

'sideshoot' is defined as a point where two shoots are emerging from the same spot, one above the other, on the main stem. Pinch out the upper one.

[Ice]

Ditto the above.  I always cut off the side shoots and lower leaves are cut when they begin to go brown.  If you have a bush variety then you may not need to cut off the sideshoots.

[richyrich7]

Ditto the above.  I always cut off the side shoots and lower leaves are cut when they begin to go brown.  If you have a bush variety then you may not need to cut off the sideshoots.

And me I leave the leaves on  

[matron]

I read somewhere to take off the leaves below the first truss when the fruits have set. Would this be done when all required trusses had set or when just the fruits on the first truss are there?

[MarkG]

Yes I read the same. In the Tom. section on this website I think. As well as the side shoots, remove all the leaves below the first truss when the fruits set.

What does that mean: 'when the fruits set' ? Does it mean when they start to grow?

[Yorkie]

I've always understood 'fruit setting' to mean that the small fruits start to be visible behind the flower - i.e. as the flower drops off, the tiny green tomato can be seen.

[matron]

That's my understanding as well Yorkie.

[GrannieAnnie]

If my toms have a load of big leaf growth as they do sometimes, I remove some of the lower leaves to let more light in, and I know someone on here said about planting the side shoots to make new plants, and I actually tried that last year and it grew and produced more toms, but I can't see the plant producing more toms if you remove the leaves.

Mind you, I haven't tried it, so could be wrong!!!

[Trillium]

Last year I took a chance and gradually took off most of my tom leaves as they grew. I left a good cluster at the top at all times as I wasn't sure just how many to take off.
It was a good success. I got lots of sweet toms, no moldy stuff in lower areas, no mice snacking on hidden toms, and the yield was just as good. I don't remove any trusses. Whatever will bear fruit is left on.
the reason I did it was that I noticed when tomato hornworms started stripping my plants, the plant simply put out new leaves and kept flowering as if nothing happened. As long as your soil is well fed, the toms will do just fine. Definitely doing it again this year. If you don't believe me, check out my personal gallery pix on toms.  

[Aidy]

The older statesmen/woman on our site do as trilly once they are producing toms, only the bottom leaves are nipped, never done it meself but they do it all the time.

[gobs]

If my toms have a load of big leaf growth as they do sometimes, I remove some of the lower leaves to let more light in, and I know someone on here said about planting the side shoots to make new plants, and I actually tried that last year and it grew and produced more toms, but I can't see the plant producing more toms if you remove the leaves.

Well, very good observation, Grannie, well prooved by extensive research, in case you needed any , the more leaf you remove the less roots they grow, so there. Not much or anything gained.  

[love-my-plot]

I had the same results as Trillium, last year. Stripped off most lower leaves, leaving a clump at the top(and any flowers of course) Loads of Toms that seemed to ripen quicker once the leaves were gone. It was the first time I'd grown them, so don't know if that would have happened anyway, without removing the leaves, but it sure didn't do any harm. The plants had lots more air around them, with less foilage too    I'll be doing the same this year, as the plants grow.

[JudyAnn]

What are you refering to when you speak of trusses, and don't you have a problem with sun scald when you remove your leaves?  Here I need the leaves to cast some shade on the tomatoes or they will sun scald.