How to properly pick leaves on tomatoes. Why and how to pick leaves from tomatoes - garden review. How to properly pick leaves from a tomato

Kira Stoletova

Trimming the leaves of tomatoes is extremely important when cultivating the crop. Let's look at how to carry out the procedure correctly.

The importance of pruning

Tomato leaves are one of the most important organs of the plant. They are responsible for processes such as:

• absorption nutrients;
• breath;
• temperature control;
• preventing moisture loss.

Trimming the leaves of tomatoes improves air circulation on the bush. The procedure helps the plant redirect its forces from growing greenery to the formation of fruits and prevents the development of putrefactive diseases.

When excess green mass is removed, the fruits become larger and their ripening time decreases.

When to prune

Tomato leaves are pruned taking into account a number of recommendations.

• The first pruning is carried out during the picking of seedlings. The lower plates are torn off so that 1/3 of the total mass remains. They do this to strengthen the root system.
• Pruning is carried out if the seedlings are too elongated. In this case, it is correct to tear off the lower greens, and place the seedlings on the ground and bury them.
• First of all, the old leaves of tomatoes are torn off: they turn yellow and often become covered with spots, which contributes to the development of fungal diseases. The spots are especially dangerous for tomatoes growing in a greenhouse.
• Greenery growing in the darkened part of the bush takes little part in photosynthesis, so it is also removed.
• The greenery growing below the first fruiting cluster is removed. This procedure has a positive effect on the development and quality of the fetus.
• Trim the greenery above the grown fruits. Tomato fruits themselves participate in the process of photosynthesis, so they do not need additional shade.
• Remove one half of the plate if this part is in the shade and does not participate in photosynthesis.
• It is advised to remove new shoots, as they take away strength from the plant and contribute to improper development of fruits.

How to prune

• Pruning is done with disinfected scissors or pruners. Also, the leaves are torn off, pressing the base up, carefully so as not to damage the stem.
• The frequency of the procedure depends on the speed of seedling development. Yellowed lower leaves are removed approximately once every 15 days. Pruning of the main mass begins after the formation of small fruits. Drooping foliage is removed as it appears. In greenhouse growing conditions, pruning begins earlier.
• IN open ground Pruning is carried out in the morning. So, within a day the wound has time to dry out and heal, which does not allow gray rot to develop. Tomatoes should not be pruned in the evening or on a rainy day.
• Tomato leaves can be trimmed in a greenhouse at any time. The only condition is the cancellation of ventilation on this day.
• Remove no more than 3 leaves at a time.
• After harvesting from the first clusters, pruning is carried out to the second, and then to the third. fruit ovary. It is better not to prune above the third cluster, since if left without greenery, the seedling will die.
• At the very end, trim the top of the bush. They choose one ovary, leave a little greenery on it, remove everything else: this is how the tomato spends more strength on nutrition and fruit growth.

Bush formation

The formation of a bush depends on the tomato variety:

• determinant;
• indeterminant;
• superdeterminant.

On a tall variety, 1-3 stems are formed, the stepson is left under the first flower cluster. To remove it correctly, press the base against the stem and pull upward so as not to damage the stem. Remove the lower leaves until the height from the soil to the foliage is about 30 cm. Trimming will prevent fungal diseases and provide access to light and air to the plant stem.

As soon as about 8 brushes have formed on the plant, cut off the top.

Determinate variety

The determinate variety is distinguished by the formation of a fruiting cluster after a 5-7-leaf blade. Having formed 4-5 brushes, these varieties stop growth. To extend the fruiting period, transfer the growth point to a side shoot.

Ideterminate variety

An indeterminate tomato variety produces only one shoot. The first fruiting brush is formed after the 10-11-leaf blade. To increase yield, side shoots are removed. Removal of stepsons is done after the formation of one flower brush on them. This procedure is performed once a week.

U experienced gardeners who have tried various agricultural techniques for cultivating vegetables in their garden, you can often find “bald” tomatoes in greenhouses with almost bare trunks, and large, beautiful tomatoes hanging on their branches.

How do they achieve such a result, and is it necessary to deprive the bushes of green mass for good fruiting?

Gardeners' opinions on this matter vary greatly, but those who have tried the method of forming a tomato bush with the gradual removal of the lower leaves can no longer refuse it.

When should you pick leaves from a tomato? And how to carry out the procedure correctly so as not to harm the plant?

Of course, tearing off leaves for the purpose of shaping, rather than simply removing diseased and infected specimens, applies more to tall varieties tomatoes, the upper part of which can greatly shade the lower part.

Low growing varieties Tomatoes are not only not picked, they are not even always picked.

The technology of tearing off the lower leaves of tomatoes did not arise by chance, it has scientific justification and is widely practiced among gardeners, so it is worth taking a closer look at it.

When using the method of removing the lower leaves from tomato bushes, gardeners pursue the following goals:

• for ease of watering. The fact is that water that gets on the leaves of tomatoes when watering contributes to their rotting and the development of a complex of diseases, therefore only the lower root is recommended for this vegetable;
• to organize better ventilation and air circulation between plantings. This is especially important when using a thickened planting pattern. With the free passage of air between the bushes, the likelihood of the occurrence of various fungal diseases is sharply reduced;
• for the outflow of nutrients to growing fruits. It is the lower leaves that take away many useful elements that the roots extract from the ground. Therefore, in order for all the necessary substances to go directly into the tomatoes, these leaves are removed.

Should you periodically pluck the lower leaves from tomato plants?

Should I pick off the leaves of a tomato? Practice shows that this event must be carried out to obtain an earlier and better harvest of tomatoes, and most importantly, a healthy one. But the shaping needs to be done correctly, taking into account many factors, and not thoughtlessly tearing off the leaves.

It is important to understand that each leaf is a full-fledged organ responsible for its vital functions, therefore, when breaking them, you need to be extremely careful and not rush anywhere.

You can remove leaves from tomatoes only when the clusters with fruits have already set. Some gardeners recommend carrying out this operation later - when the fruits are milky ripe, when they acquire a light green color.

In any case, the technology for picking leaves is the same and involves several stages.

How to properly pick leaves from a tomato

• Stage 1 The formation of a tomato bush must begin with the so-called “cleaning”, that is, the removal of unhealthy leaves that have signs of yellowing, spotting, rotting, curling, etc. All cut leaves must be collected and burned. To move on to the next stage, you need to wait a couple of days. In this case, the old wounds caused to the tomato bushes during pruning will definitely heal, and the plants themselves will not be subject to severe stress.
• Stage 2. At this stage, it is recommended to thin out the plants to improve lighting, so remove the lower leaves that thicken the plantings. What leaves should be plucked from a tomato? Firstly, those that grow in the middle of the bush, and you can also remove one or two pieces from each bush planted with north side. After removing the leaves, you need to let the plants rest again. In principle, if there are few unhealthy and thickening leaves, then the first two stages can be combined into one, since it is recommended to pick no more than four leaves from the bush at a time.
• Stage 3. Here leaves will be purposefully removed to obtain more early harvest: under an already well-formed brush, you can remove the lower leaves with peace of mind: 2...3 leaves per bush. This is what most sources recommend doing. But, as practice has shown, with a more massive removal of the lower leaves under the brush, nothing terrible happened to the tomato bushes. Therefore, you can try and tear off the leaves from the tomatoes under the lower brush at one time.
• Stage 4. At this stage, all the lower leaves under the second cluster are cut off, when it is already quite well formed, and the fruits themselves have reached almost the maximum varietal size. And thus, gradually, as the fruit clusters of the tomato bushes develop, almost all the leaves are torn off to the top, leaving about four apical ones. Such bald trees will bring high yield, which will ripen on the bushes, and not in ripening boxes.

Depending on the number of bushes planted, trimming the lower leaves of tomatoes can take quite a lot of time for the gardener. But you shouldn’t delete them in a hurry.

Accuracy in this matter is paramount. How exactly to pick leaves from tomatoes in a greenhouse and in open ground? First, you need to decide which of two methods will remove the leaves:

• tearing it off with your hands. In this case, the leaf itself is bent up along the trunk and broken off, leaving no stumps. Under no circumstances should you pull the leaf down, since when torn off it will take along many fibers and tissues of the stem. Such a wound will bring great stress to the plant;
• Using a small pruner or garden shears, the leaf is simply cut off without leaving any stumps.

And finally, some tips for removing the lower leaves of tomatoes:

“Oh, why are your tomatoes so bald?” From time to time, you have to answer this kind of question either on the forum or in the comments... Let's talk about whether a short hairstyle, even bald, suits tomatoes, and how to pluck them correctly.

Which leaves should be removed and when?

The tomato leaf is the same full-fledged organ of the plant as the root or stem; it is responsible for nutrition and respiration. Therefore, at first glance, the idea of ​​removing leaves seems somewhat blasphemous - why mutilate the plant? The answer to the question is not at all so clear - it often happens that there is really no need to pick off the leaves. A healthy, green and well-lit leaf is a friend and helper.

But everything has its time, its age. Old tomato leaves often turn yellow with age, become covered with various spots, weaken, and such leaves serve as the initial cozy “home” for various fungal diseases. Therefore, old, yellowing and spotted leaves should be removed first.

Following them, it is worthwhile to lighten the bushes from time to time - cut out the leaves that face the north side, or are located in the depths of the bush, or in the shadow of other bushes. Such a shaded leaf will still not give us much benefit in terms of photosynthesis, and by removing excess leaves we will improve the overall ventilation of the planting, especially if we're talking about about the greenhouse.

Another type of leaves that need to be removed are brush growths. It happens that after the flower cluster the growth of the shoot does not end, but continues - the stem, leaves, and again flowers grow. Many people are even happy about this turn, but in fact, if all the tomatoes are stuck in the brush, then it is better to remove this “addition” so that the brush develops fully. At the same time, if the main brush turns out to be a bit empty, then you can leave a couple of tomatoes to continue.

How much and when to cut?

It is usually recommended to remove 2-3 bottom leaves 2 times a week, but this is too general a “rule”. You need to look at the growth rate of the plant as a whole; sometimes you have to remove 5-6 leaves at a time, and this has never caused any particular harm to the tomatoes.

The main rule that should be followed is that if all the berries have not yet set in the cluster, then most of the leaves above the cluster should be intact. And vice versa - if all the tomatoes in the brush have already started, then BELOW this brush you can safely remove all the leaves.

Towards the end of July - beginning of August in middle lane in the greenhouse they usually start pinching the tops of the tomatoes. That is, it is assumed that all further brushes will still not have time to form a crop. So, after pinching like this, when in principle we don’t need to build up the vegetative mass, we can remove all the leaves except the top 3-4. This is a good disease prevention, although it looks a little wild.

Always leave 1-2 sheets above the topmost brush so as not to disturb the flow of sap.

The debate surrounding the question of whether it is necessary to pick off the lower leaves of tomato bushes has not subsided for many years. Alone experienced gardeners they argue that it is absolutely necessary - it protects the tomatoes from diseases and increases the yield, other equally experienced vegetable growers are categorically against it, they say, tearing off the leaves leads to infection of the tomato bushes and after that they quickly burn out from late blight. Whose truth is, now we’ll figure it out.

According to biological characteristics Solanaceous plants, which include tomatoes, have an average leaf life of 3-3.5 months. That is, after serving their allotted time, they begin to dry out.

Naturally, the first to die off are those that appeared first - in the lower part of the bush. Leaves that have begun to turn yellow are already a burden for the plant and must be removed.

The second reason for the need for this procedure is that a large vegetative mass takes energy away from the bush for its maintenance, to the detriment of fruiting. The bush is fattening, the fruits on it are small and tasteless, but the leaves are huge and bright.

Cutting the leaves from below, and quite radically, will help save the tomato harvest. This operation stimulates plants to flower, set fruits and ripen them.

Additionally, during rain and watering, if the beds are not mulched, drops of water are repelled from the soil and settle in the lower part of the leaf blades that are in contact with the soil, infecting them with pathogenic microflora.

When Bottom part the stem is bare, this danger is reduced tenfold. All lower leaves located below the first cluster with ovaries can be safely removed.

The advantages of manipulation include the fact that if you trim the leaves of tomatoes, the loss of moisture from the plant itself will be reduced due to reduced evaporation, and this is very important in places where there is a problem with watering.

In addition, the presence large leaves covers the soil, does not allow air masses to circulate freely between the bushes, and moisture does not evaporate from the soil surface.

This leads to increased development of molds and the risk of various diseases, in particular late blight, is maximum. This operation is especially relevant in a greenhouse, where ventilation is complicated due to the lack of wind.

At the same time with lower leaves Fattening shoots growing in the lower part of the bush should also be removed, all throughout the bush (it no longer needs them).

Also useless will be shoots growing above the brush with ovaries, leaves on the northern or shaded side of the bush, covering the ripening brushes (but if there is a risk sunburn– it’s better to leave them). If you follow the rules for tearing off leaves, the risk of infection will be minimal, and tomato bushes will delight you with an excellent healthy harvest.

Arguments of opponents of removing leaves on tomatoes

There are not many of them, only two.

1. The first is that nature has determined how the bush will develop, when, in what order and how the leaves die. You cannot interfere in this process.
2. The second argument is that after the leaves are torn off, the bushes begin to hurt, since pathogens enter the tissues through open wounds.

The counterarguments are as follows. Are you ridding a grape bush of extra shoots and old leaves? This helps to increase the yield and protects the bush from diseases. Without such operations, the grapes return to a wild state, unless they die from oidium and mildew.

The tomato bush is similar - if you don’t help it, it will become overgrown with wild shoots, quickly get sick and “burn”, and there will be a minimum of fruit or even the entire crop will die. And if you follow this logic, you need to abandon pinching and the formation of indeterminate varieties. And what?

According to the second, if you pick off the leaves of tomatoes correctly, as shown in the video, then the wounds heal very quickly and no infection occurs. The thinning technology is described below.

When and how to properly pick leaves from a tomato?

So, the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to pick off the leaves of tomatoes is definitely positive. But when is the time to carry out this manipulation and how to perform it?

And the process must adhere to the following rules:

• manipulation should be carried out in the morning, on a hot sunny day - this way the wounds will heal quickly;
• you can’t rush when you start picking off the lower leaves;
• Do not remove many leaves at one time;
• All removed parts of the bush must be burned (and never thrown into compost).

The first wave of removal should be carried out only after the tomato seedlings have taken root on permanent place, and this is 8-10 days from transplantation.

The first to remove are the yellowed lower leaves and those that have gray or brown spots. Next you can remove healthy leaves that are in contact with the soil and greatly thicken the bush. This can be done up to the bottom flower brush. Often such an operation even stimulates the bush to throw out new flower stalks, which increases the yield.

The first wave can also include leaves located on the north side and located in the shade. They simply do not take part in photosynthesis, but simply take away vitality at the plant. Feel free to remove them, especially since they are always underdeveloped.

The second stage is associated with the beginning of fruit ripening. At this time, you should tear off all the leaves below the first cluster and some of those that cover the ripening fruits. Tomatoes need sun to accumulate useful substances. And only in the south, where tomatoes can simply cook from the heat, should protection be left on.

Trim or cut off?

Also a subject for debate. But in essence, there is no difference. It’s easier for you to do this with scissors or pruning shears - cut, only when moving from plant to plant, the tool must be sterilized - in strong potassium permanganate or soda solution.

If you break it off manually, keep the trunk of the bush nearby, do not pull the leaf down, but up - the petiole will break off neatly.

And so that the plant does not become infected through the wound, it must be disinfected - the easiest way is to dust it with ashes, or, in extreme cases, with soda.

At the same time, pinching and tying up the bushes is carried out - and for the next 2 weeks, the formation care will be completed.

Tomatoes are a crop that requires special care. The vegetable cannot be called whimsical, but it requires attention. Summer residents are often concerned about issues of planting, watering, and feeding plants. Many gardeners are also interested in whether it is necessary to pick off the leaves of tomatoes, and whether such a procedure positive influence for seedlings?

Regardless of whether tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse or open ground, gardeners always think about the need and consequences of picking off leaves from tomatoes.

It is known that the lower organs of the plant that touch the ground must be eliminated as early as possible. After all, such leaves provoke the spread of late blight and other diseases on the crop. And many pathogenic microorganisms live in the soil and can easily move to the plant. You can fight the disease with substances containing copper. But such a “struggle” will not benefit those who will consume the fruits. After all, processed vegetables contain copper ions, which are harmful to humans.

Therefore, it is better to use agrotechnical methods: removing the lower leaves of the vegetable.

It is necessary to remove other leaves, not just those located at the very bottom. For example, inflorescences growing below need to be eliminated in stages. But this procedure can be carried out no more than twice. The first time to pick off the organs is when the ovary acquires the size characteristic of the variety.

Leaves growing above the first inflorescence should also be cut in stages, focusing on the size of the ovary. There is no need to remove many organs at once, as this will cause the tomatoes to experience stress, which can affect the quality of the harvest.

Video “Why pick leaves from tomatoes”

An educational video about whether tomato organs need to be removed.

Leaf removal technique

The procedure for eliminating tomato leaves must be carried out correctly. It is advisable to trim “unnecessary” organs in the morning and in sunny weather. This way, the wounds created by removal will heal faster and will not become a source of disease development.

Tomato leaves are easy to tear off if you press the petiole up, parallel to the stem. If you pull down, you can tear off long strips of the plant's skin.

When tomato bushes in a greenhouse show signs of diseases on the leaves or even the fruits, then such parts of the tomato must be immediately eliminated. If the disease has affected only a lobe, then only it can be cut off and the organ itself can be left in culture. Leaves are important organs for the nutrition and growth of the vegetable. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate them all, leaving only the top, only when 7-8 clusters of fruit have been formed.

The question of removal technique remains important for most gardeners: they can be trimmed or simply torn off. In principle, there is no significant difference. The main thing is disinfection after each bush. Therefore, it is better to pick leaves while wearing gloves, and after trimming, the scissors must be treated with alcohol or a saturated solution of potassium permanganate. It’s good if a bottle of ready-made disinfectant is always at hand: at the dacha or in the greenhouse. After all, disinfecting the tool will help avoid massive contamination of tomatoes.

Which leaves should I pick?

The tomato leaf is the organ responsible for the respiration of tomatoes. Therefore, gardeners, especially beginners, are often interested in which vegetable leaves should be torn off. Indeed, if the organ is young and healthy, then it is not worth removing it. Green and well lit, it brings many benefits to the plant. But over time, such a leaf dries, becomes stained, weakens, or even becomes a breeding ground. various diseases and fungi. Therefore, such organs must be liquidated immediately.

In addition, to care for tomatoes correctly - carry out the procedure of lightening the bushes. It is necessary to eliminate all leaves growing in the north, in the shade of other crops or in the depths. Such an organ is constantly in the shade and brings virtually no benefit to the plant. Also, with the help of lightening, you can significantly improve ventilation between the bushes, which is especially important when growing vegetables in a greenhouse.

Organs that grow from the flower cluster are also subject to elimination. Sometimes, after blooming, the bush continues to grow, forming new shoots as well as organs on it. If all the ovaries have already formed into full-fledged fruits, then it is better to eliminate such “growths”. True, if the main stem turns out to be barren, you can leave several ovaries on this additional one.

Some leaves should be torn off already when replanting the crop into the soil. Just do not carry out the procedure right away, as this can provoke disease in the seedlings. It is better to trim the leaves in stages, but 7-10 days after transplantation, all organs must be cut off before the first ovary or flowering. This procedure will allow you to correctly direct the “forces” of the crop - to the formation of fruits.

You can understand when to pick tomato leaves in a greenhouse simply by observing the plant. If it becomes too “branchy”, it’s time to cut off the excess. Firstly, sometimes because of the leaves it is impossible to get close to the stem to tie it. Secondly, the “bald” bush will get more sun and moisture.

How much and when?

It is recommended to trim 2-3 tomato leaves twice a week. But still, the frequency of removal depends on the developmental characteristics of a particular plant. Sometimes you can eliminate up to 6 leaves at a time without harming the plant.

It is necessary to correctly carry out the liquidation procedure in a greenhouse by following the rule - when the fruits have not yet set, all the leaves must remain above them. And when the ovaries are formed, all the organs below them can be removed.

At the beginning of August, the tops of the bushes are pinched, since the remaining bushes will no longer have time to form a harvest. After this procedure, all organs can be removed except for the upper few. Such actions are an excellent prevention of many diseases.

For sap flow to occur naturally, you need to leave a couple of leaves above the topmost inflorescence.

So, tearing off the leaves of tomatoes - necessary procedure, which has a positive effect on the plant. It helps get rid of pests mechanically rather than chemically. The main thing is to carry out the procedure, following all the rules and recommendations of experienced summer residents.

Video “Pruning tomato leaves”

Video tutorial on pruning leaves of tomatoes.