Tomatoes can grow bigger and plumper if gardeners perform a quick task before July ends, according to gardening experts. The technique involves removing suckers—small shoots that grow from leaf joints—which drain energy from developing fruit.
Linda Ly, founder of Garden Betty, explained that cutting off suckers reduces competition for nutrients and focuses the plant's energy on producing larger fruit. She said: "Cutting off the suckers does contribute to bigger tomatoes. You'll get fewer fruits overall since you'll have fewer branches, but the fruits your plant produces will grow larger."
Why remove tomato suckers in July?
Late July sits in the heart of the tomato growing season, with plants typically bearing small green fruit ready for harvesting by month's end. Suckers are shoots that grow into additional stems capable of flowering, but they draw energy away from the fruit, resulting in smaller tomatoes that take longer to ripen.
In the UK, it is widely advised to remove suckers due to the relatively short growing season. Doing so enables existing fruit to ripen more effectively and concentrates the flavour, leading to a more abundant harvest.
How to identify and remove suckers
First, identify a sucker: a small leafy shoot emerging from the leaf joint. Gardeners often confuse suckers with flower trusses, which develop on the main stem and should have flowers or tomato clusters forming. Once identified, simply pinch the sucker between thumb and forefinger until it snaps away.
The process takes mere seconds. If suckers have grown large, scissors or secateurs may be needed—cut as close to the stem as possible to avoid damaging the main plant.
What happens if you leave suckers?
If left untouched, the tomato plant becomes bushier, flowers again, and may yield additional fruit through to the end of summer. However, suckers divert energy, nutrients, and vital resources away from existing fruit, resulting in considerably smaller tomatoes.
Removing suckers now in July helps channel more energy towards the fruit, ensuring tomatoes are sweet, large, and as flavoursome as possible.
