The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: suziequeue on June 10, 2010, 09:40:34 pm

Title: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: suziequeue on June 10, 2010, 09:40:34 pm

Our tomatoes are going great guns. In my Dr Hessayon book it says pinch out all the leaves below the first truss once they reach about four feet high.

Does this mean completely denuding the stems up to the first truss?

Poor little lambsjavascript:void(0);

Any advice please?

Susanna

Title: Re: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: Helencus on June 10, 2010, 09:43:11 pm

 I pinch out the growth between the main stem and each main leaf stem.

Title: Re: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: Fleecewife on June 10, 2010, 10:01:56 pm

I think it means taking off the big leaves, very carefully with a sterile sharp blade, close up to the stem.  This allows air to circulate to reduce the risk of blight and other fungal problems, and it removes older leaves when they have stopped photosynthesising efficiently.  I do do it, but not religiously.

Title: Re: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: suziequeue on June 10, 2010, 10:24:58 pm

Thanks fleecewife. That makes sense.

I love your Jacob javascript:void(0);

Susanna

Title: Re: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: Fleecewife on June 11, 2010, 11:58:43 pm

Er...he's a Hebridean but very lovely!  His name is Gladstone Laughing Boy as he used to chuckle along beside us when he was a lamb.  He's about due for retirement this year so won't be going on his annual trip to the Royal Highland Show later this month.  He always loved all the fuss and attention he got from everyone.  He will spend his remaining years gracing our fields and causing minor pile-ups amongst passing traffic trying to work out just what he is :o

Title: Re: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: Fleecewife on June 12, 2010, 12:09:25 am

I've just looked at the photo of the Heb tup again - he looks as if he only has three legs, but I promise he has four  ;D

Title: Re: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: suziequeue on June 12, 2010, 06:30:22 pm

Oh yes - I hadn't noticed that. Sorry for getting the breed wrong - Jacobs have similar horns.

I pretty hopeless on sheep - we are hoping to get some badger faced ewes at the end of the summer (hubby knows about sheep!!)

Susanna

Title: Re: De-leafing tomatoes
Post by: Fleecewife on June 13, 2010, 12:42:03 am

At least you recognised him as a sheep - most people insist he is a goat  :o  Sheep are great and you will soon learn about them.  Oops - off topic  :)