Leaves that touch the ground.

Mjdtexan · June 12, 2009

I was noticing this Thread about their branches and leaves being really thick. I have leaves touching the ground. Should I prune those?

Adenn1 · June 12, 2009

I typically prune all branches so that I have about twelve inches of space between the ground and the bottom leaves. I do this as a means of stopping the spead of disease/fungus. I also mulch with grass clippings and straw.

Tomstrees · June 12, 2009

I definitely remove the lower leaves that have the possibility of touching soil or water splash up

~ Tom

Mjdtexan · June 12, 2009

Thank Yall both so much for the responses. If yall dont mind, I have another question. When you remove a branch, is there any danger to the plant in the area that you removed the branch from? When you remove the branch you leave an open wound on the your tomato plant. The open wound is what I am asking about.

Mjd

Tomstrees · June 12, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mjdtexan

Thank Yall both so much for the responses. If yall dont mind, I have another question. When you remove a branch, is there any danger to the plant in the area that you removed the branch from? When you remove the branch you leave an open wound on the your tomato plant. The open wound is what I am asking about.

Mjd

the open would will calous over over some time - hope that helps !

~ Tom

Mjdtexan · June 12, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomstrees

the open would will calous over over some time - hope that helps !

~ Tom

It does, my plants are very bushy and lots of limbs and leaves touching the ground. I did some pruning today and I will finish it up in the morn.

dice · June 13, 2009

One caution: you probably do not want to prune of 12" of vegetation
on a 14" plant, for example, leaving only set of leaves. I try to adapt
it to growth of the plant, trimming bottom sets of leaves as the plant
acquires sufficient top growth to maintain its rate of growth without
them, until the bottom foot or so of the plant has had all of the
leaves removed.

Already diseased leaves are a different issue, and I just bite the bullet
and cut them off, no matter how small the plant is.

June 12, 2009	#1
Mjdtexan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston(ish), Texas Posts: 95	Leaves that touch the ground. I was noticing this Thread about their branches and leaves being really thick. I have leaves touching the ground. Should I prune those? __________________ Knows nothing about tomatoes, wants to learn everything about tomatoes.Wine Maker

June 12, 2009	#2
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	I typically prune all branches so that I have about twelve inches of space between the ground and the bottom leaves. I do this as a means of stopping the spead of disease/fungus. I also mulch with grass clippings and straw. __________________ Mark

June 12, 2009	#3
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	I definitely remove the lower leaves that have the possibility of touching soil or water splash up ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

June 12, 2009	#4
Mjdtexan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston(ish), Texas Posts: 95	Thank Yall both so much for the responses. If yall dont mind, I have another question. When you remove a branch, is there any danger to the plant in the area that you removed the branch from? When you remove the branch you leave an open wound on the your tomato plant. The open wound is what I am asking about. Mjd __________________ Knows nothing about tomatoes, wants to learn everything about tomatoes.Wine Maker

June 13, 2009	#7
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	One caution: you probably do not want to prune of 12" of vegetation on a 14" plant, for example, leaving only set of leaves. I try to adapt it to growth of the plant, trimming bottom sets of leaves as the plant acquires sufficient top growth to maintain its rate of growth without them, until the bottom foot or so of the plant has had all of the leaves removed. Already diseased leaves are a different issue, and I just bite the bullet and cut them off, no matter how small the plant is. __________________ -- alias