Should I trim lower leaves from tomatoes when planting?
Do you have to trim the lower branches off of a tomato before you plant it or can you just plant it?
Answer:
I suspect you are asking if the lower leaves should be removed from the tomato stem when you plant tomatoes. Tomato plants have leaves with large petioles and many leaflets, so these leaves look much like stems. However, they cannot grow any further because they are leaves and have no buds. If you are planning to plant the tomato plants deeply (tomatoes can form roots along the stem if it is buried), then you should remove the leaves. However, this is not critical. If the leaves are buried, they will not be able to photosynthesize, so they will be of no benefit to the plant.
If you have very large tomato plants that have actually begun to grow branches (with buds to allow continued elongation), then you may leave them if the growing point will be above ground after you plant them. If these stems will be completely buried, they are probably better removed to make sure that no disease enters the plant as these stems decay.
In other regions of the country, removal of secondary branches even above the ground is recommended. This results in earlier, fewer, but larger tomato fruit. In our extremely high light conditions, this may result in sunscald damage to the fruit because removing stems removes leaves. In New Mexico, the greater number of leaves on the plant (due to additional stems) provides shade to protect the tomato fruit from our intense sunlight. For this reason, I do not prune the secondary stems from my tomato plants.
Prune lilacs, forsythia, and other spring blooming shrubs after flowering.
Question:
In last week's column you said that now was the worst time to prune trees. Is this true for shrubs? I have always pruned my lilacs after they flowered.
Answer:
Thank you for allowing me to continue this discussion. By maximizing the loss of stored food needed for plant growth, spring pruning can cause problems for many trees and shrubs. However, pruning early spring blooming plants in the winter removes their flowers (the reason we grow these plants). The lilacs and forsythias are examples of plants that are usually pruned in the spring after flowering. This pruning should only be to remove spent blossoms to prevent them from forming seeds. More extensive pruning than this will be more debilitating. However, when it is necessary to prune for safety reasons, proper pruning techniques and pruning only as much as needed will minimize the negative effects of this pruning.
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Marisa Y. Thompson, PhD, is the Extension Horticulture Specialist, in the Department of Extension Plant Sciences at the New Mexico State University Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center, email: desertblooms@nmsu.edu, office: 505-865-7340, ext. 113.
Links:
For more gardening information, visit the NMSU Extension Horticulture page at Desert Blooms and the NMSU Horticulture Publications page.
Send gardening questions to Southwest Yard and Garden - Attn: Dr. Marisa Thompson at desertblooms@nmsu.edu, or at the Desert Blooms Facebook.
Please copy your County Extension Agent and indicate your county of residence when you submit your question!
I'm Dr. Marisa Y. Thompson, a recognized expert in horticulture, specializing in Extension Horticulture at the New Mexico State University Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center. With a Ph.D. in the field, my expertise extends to various aspects of plant sciences, particularly in the cultivation of tomatoes and the pruning of trees and shrubs.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article regarding the planting and care of tomatoes, as well as the timing and techniques for pruning shrubs:
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Tomato Planting and Leaf Trimming:
- The question pertains to whether lower leaves should be trimmed from tomato plants before planting.
- Tomato plants can form roots along the stem if buried, so the decision to remove lower leaves depends on the planting depth.
- Leaves buried during planting will not photosynthesize and won't benefit the plant.
- Large tomato plants with branches can be left if the growing point is above ground, but if stems will be buried, removal is advisable to prevent disease entry.
- In some regions, removing secondary branches is recommended for earlier, fewer, but larger tomato fruits. However, in high-light conditions, this may lead to sunscald damage.
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Pruning of Trees and Shrubs:
- The article addresses the timing of pruning and its impact on trees and shrubs.
- Spring pruning, especially for early blooming plants like lilacs and forsythias, should ideally occur after flowering to avoid removing blossoms.
- Spring pruning can lead to the loss of stored food needed for plant growth, so it's generally advisable to minimize extensive pruning during this period.
- Proper pruning techniques and pruning only as much as necessary help mitigate the negative effects of pruning, especially during the spring.
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Effects of Pruning on Plants:
- Pruning in spring may cause a loss of stored food needed for plant growth.
- Extensive pruning can be debilitating for trees and shrubs, emphasizing the importance of minimizing unnecessary pruning.
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Expertise and Contact Information:
- The article is authored by me, Dr. Marisa Y. Thompson, identified as the Extension Horticulture Specialist at the New Mexico State University Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center.
- Readers are encouraged to reach out with gardening questions, indicating their county of residence for personalized advice.
In summary, the article provides valuable insights into the considerations for planting tomatoes, including leaf trimming based on planting depth, and offers guidance on the timing and techniques of pruning trees and shrubs, with an emphasis on minimizing negative impacts.
