How do I pick the leaves off my tomato plants with out killing it?

I have patio tomato plants .

How do I pick the leaves off my tomato plants with out killing it?
with a sharp knife==cut the sucker off in the V formed by branches,,,when they are real small you can pinch them off with thumb and index finger,,,you really don't want to cut too many off,,because they provide shade for the fruits later on this summer,,
Reply:if they're little tiny leaves you can just pinch them off. If they've become bigger I'd cut them off with a knife or scissors. You want to get the suckers because they drain energy from the fruit.
Reply:I just squeeze ate the base and twist off. These are the suckers , you are talkin' about . Right.
Reply:scissors or nails, cut at the base of the leaf.