Re: Query: Suckering Tomatoes
- To:
- Subject: Re: Query: Suckering Tomatoes
- From: T* V* O*
- Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 16:17:55 -0700
- References: <20000503.160021.-204081.0.gardensmith@juno.com> <002d01bfcf0c$497c3fe0$08fce4ce@computer>
- Resent-Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 16:05:00 -0700
- Resent-From: v*@eskimo.com
- Resent-Message-ID: <"GTzbS3.0.8l7.REOFv"@mx1>
- Resent-Sender: v*@eskimo.com
I've never heard that suckering invites blight. In fact, here in the
Pacific North West, you really have to prune plants to increase airflow or
you WILL get blight.
Arzeena
-----------------------------
Terra Viva Organics
Organic garden seed, natural fertilizers & predatory insects
www.tvorganics.com
---------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: Julianne Wiley <jlw@planetc.com>
To: <veggie-list@eskimo.com>
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2000 9:37 AM
Subject: Query: Suckering Tomatoes
> Dear gardeners,
>
> Do you sucker your tomatoes?
>
> One disadvantage of the sucker (some people say) is that it diverts too
much
> of the plant's energy into growing a whole new set of leaves, and thus you
> will tend to get many, but smaller, tomatoes. Sometimes suckers grow so
far
> past the tomato cage laterally that they flop down to the ground, tipping
> (or even bending) the tomato cage from the weight.
>
> So some people sternly pinch off (or snap off) all the suckers so the
plant
> conforms more to a simple main-stem-and-branches form, rather than a huge
> sprawly bushy viney tomato-producing giant which mugs nearby basil and
> pepper plants, and then sets out to go mano-a-mano with the kudzu.
>
> (I live in Eastern Tennessee, USDA zone 6b, quite near the Unaka Mountains
> which are officially Temperate Rain Forest. We *know* kudzu.)
>
> On the other hand, I have heard of some people clipping off and rooting
the
> suckers, and starting a whole new batch of plants that way.
>
> And (on the OTHER other hand) some people say that the physical damage of
> snapping of all the suckers causes wounds in the plants which invites
> insects, blights, wilts, etc.
>
> I have some fine vigorous Amish Brandywines here. I don't want to ruin
> them. What would you do?
>
> Juli(Unaka)anne
>
>
