Why you need to pick off tomato leaves and how to do it correctly
Ruthless and unreasonable removal of leaves from tomatoes will not bring benefit, but harm.
Each adult plant should have 12-13 healthy leaves. They are needed for good ventilation of the plant bush.
In the southern region, in a hot climate, the plant must evaporate moisture to maintain a comfortable condition.
Leaves are also needed for the absorption of nutrients and nutrition of the bush and fruits.
After the process of photosynthesis, which occurs in the leaves, the nutritious juices enter the fruits.
A very small number of leaves on a bush can affect the taste of the fruit.
Remove leaves from tomatoes regularly to:
• better ventilation, especially in the lower tier;
• reducing the process of moisture evaporation;
• increasing fruit nutrition and intensive flowering and fruit formation;
• prevention of diseases, especially those that concern the soil;
• better ripening of fruits, above the brush of ripening tomatoes;
• better root formation with deep planting.
Conclusion
Tomato leaves are as essential to the plant as the trunk and roots.
To increase the yield and strengthen the plant, regularly remove old and yellow leaves. They can bring infectious and fungal diseases to the plant.
It is also necessary to tear off the leaves from the northern side of the bush for better sun exposure. The lower leaves are torn off so that they do not thicken and do not touch the ground near the bush.
Removing shoots and leaves growing on the fruit cluster. After 8 fruit clusters have formed, the top of the stem is pinched so that the tomatoes can ripen.
