Tomatoes may be nearing the end of their harvest season, but there is still time to boost fruit size and quality with a simple 10-second weekly task: removing suckers. These small shoots, which sprout between the main stem and vine branches, drain energy from the plant, potentially leading to shrivelled or undersized tomatoes.
Why Suckers Are a Problem
When a tomato plant has ripening fruit, it tends to produce suckers that help it spread foliage and absorb more sunlight. However, they earn their name by sapping considerable energy from the tomatoes. In late summer, leaving suckers untended can seriously impact crop quality, making fruit more likely to grow shrivelled or undersized.
Toni, a gardener and founder of Simple Frugal Life, explained that neglecting suckers can also affect the plant's overall health. She said: "If you leave your side shoots to grow, and don't pinch them out, the plants may become very heavy, may become tangled, and could be hard to manage and control. They will take up a lot of space, too."
How to Remove Tomato Suckers
Eliminating suckers is straightforward and takes only seconds. Locate a small shoot emerging between the main stem and a branch, then use your thumb and forefinger to snap it off cleanly. Be gentle to avoid twisting shoots too forcefully, as this can damage the stem.
It is best to catch shoots early while they are young and tender, making removal easier. Inspect plants regularly. If shoots have hardened, use clean scissors or gardening shears. Toni noted: "If you haven't checked them recently, or you only have time to do this once a week, they might be quite large before you remove them. This will make them harder to remove, and you may need to use scissors or shears."
Weekly Check for Better Yield
Removing suckers encourages tomatoes to channel more energy into fruit production, keeps plants neat, and prevents stress, giving a better chance of harvesting larger fruit. Check tomato plants once a week, pinch off new shoots, and enjoy bigger, juicier tomatoes until the growing season ends.
