I've heard that you should strip most of the leaves off tomato plants so that all the energy goes to the fruit

There's apparently a knack to it, does anyone know what it is? I don't want to ruin my plants or risk disease from raw spots on the stems.

I've heard that you should strip most of the leaves off tomato plants so that all the energy goes to the fruit
That's true for some plants, but not tomatoes. They need lots of energy that comes from those leaves carrying on photosynthesis.





Remove dead or spotty leaves. The rest can stay on.
Reply:You should pick the newly sprouted leaves wherever there is a V in the stem of the tomato plant. The plant should have been planted in warm soil up to the bottom leaves. This promotes a bushier plant and will produce more fruit. Hope this helps. I also rotate my garden every year. That is, I dont plant the same thing in the same spot year after year. This way you won't have bugs to worry about.
Reply:My Mom always pinched off the "sucker" leaves that grew between the main leaves and the stalk. She says it makes the tomatoes grow better. I tried it on my plants and they are covered with tiny tomatoes and blooms. It didn't hurt the plants any.