Leaf removal?

crmauch · July 20, 2014

I have seen somewhere on Tomatoville, that someone removes all their leaves up to the first fruit (I believe it was to limit disease). At the moment my tomatoes have a full skirt of healthy leaves down to the ground. Any thoughts on the advantage/disadvantage of doing this?

Last year I lost all my tomatoes by August by what I'm fairly certain was Late Blight. Haven't seen any this year, but it has definitely been seen in the neighboring county and is possibly already in my county.

Leaf removal thoughts or any recommendations on keeping my tomatoes healthy would be appreciated.

VC Scott · July 20, 2014

Leaves touching the ground are ladders for insects and disease. I take off bottom 12 inches.

KarenO · July 20, 2014

Pruning up from the ground to at least where no leaves at all are touching the soil or up to the first cluster and then using a clean seed free mulch like straw or wood shavings etc will prevent soil which contains fungal spores and bacteria good and bad from splashing up onto the foliage. It will also allow air flow and light under your plants
KarenO

July 20, 2014	#1
crmauch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Honey Brook, PA Zone 6b Posts: 399	Leaf removal? I have seen somewhere on Tomatoville, that someone removes all their leaves up to the first fruit (I believe it was to limit disease). At the moment my tomatoes have a full skirt of healthy leaves down to the ground. Any thoughts on the advantage/disadvantage of doing this? Last year I lost all my tomatoes by August by what I'm fairly certain was Late Blight. Haven't seen any this year, but it has definitely been seen in the neighboring county and is possibly already in my county. Leaf removal thoughts or any recommendations on keeping my tomatoes healthy would be appreciated.

July 20, 2014	#2
VC Scott Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 352	Leaves touching the ground are ladders for insects and disease. I take off bottom 12 inches.

July 20, 2014	#3
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,928	Pruning up from the ground to at least where no leaves at all are touching the soil or up to the first cluster and then using a clean seed free mulch like straw or wood shavings etc will prevent soil which contains fungal spores and bacteria good and bad from splashing up onto the foliage. It will also allow air flow and light under your plants KarenO