Gardeners need to focus on their tomato plants before the end of August, as neglecting a key gardening task could result in smaller and weaker tomatoes.
As the growing season for tomatoes is winding down, many fruits will soon be ripe and ready for picking. However, there’s one simple task that can boost your crop yield significantly.
It’s crucial to remove the side shoots, or suckers, from your tomato plants before summer ends. These shoots divert energy from the plant, preventing it from focusing on the existing fruit.
Toni, a gardener and founder of Simple Frugal Life, emphasizes that removing these tomato shoots leads to “larger” fruit because the plant directs all its energy into ripening the existing tomatoes.
She explains: “If you let those side shoots grow and don’t remove them, the plants can get heavy, tangled, and difficult to manage.”
She adds: “By removing the excess shoots, the plant focuses on fruit production rather than growing more leaves. Too many stems can also block airflow, increasing the risk of disease.”
How to Remove Side Shoots from Tomato Plants
You can easily spot the shoots that need removal—they grow between the main stem and the leafy branches.
For small shoots, simply use your fingers to pinch them out. Larger shoots might require sharp shears or scissors.
Toni notes: “It’s easier to remove the shoots when they’re small. Just pinch at the base of the shoot with your thumb and finger, and they should come off easily.”
Check your tomato plants at least twice a week until the season ends, as larger, established shoots become harder to remove.
For bigger shoots, be sure to sterilize your shears or scissors with alcohol to reduce the risk of disease.
Toni adds: “Removing the shoots while they’re young leaves a smaller scar on the plant, reducing the chances of disease.”
After removing the shoots, place them in your compost or gardening bin. Don’t leave them on the ground, as decaying plant material can attract slugs.
It’s essential to pinch off shoots a few times a week in late summer for a better yield, rather than doing it all at once, as too much pruning can stress the plant.
Many gardeners also choose to pinch the top of their tomato plants in late summer to control growth and ensure the plant focuses entirely on ripening fruit, while also improving airflow and sunlight exposure.
Toni shares: “Some gardeners pinch the top of the plant once it has at least five or six trusses of fruit, especially later in the season, to help the plant concentrate on ripening the tomatoes.”
“Others might wait until there are seven or eight trusses, as some tomato varieties grow faster than others, depending on when they were planted.”