Should leaves be removed from bush tomatoes?

[greyhound]

I am growing Roma outside in containers.  First time I've grown a bush variety. 

Is it advisable to remove some of the leaves to let in some light and air?  Most of them have stayed fairly upright, rather than sprawling, so the foliage is quite dense.

[greyhound]

[tim]

Don't know about outside, but it usually helps to take off the bottom leaves in most toms.

[greyhound]

Thanks, Tim, yes, I took a few off the bottom when I top-dressed them yesterday.  Just wondering if they would benefit from removing some more around the trusses that are set.

[slippy fly]

I remove any that are shading the trusses and as the season goes I end up removing quite a few more.

[jennym]

Same here, I remove leaves, and to be honest by the end of the season they look quite naked. But I do think it helps air circulation, and lets the sun get to the fruits.

[sarah]

what do you use to top dress? i am not sure what this term means although i have heard it before. could you enlighten us beginners. is it just an extra feed or is it extra compost? i am growing my bush toms in baskets, should i give them a top dressing?

[greyhound]

Well, as they grow, roots become visible on the surface and the compost sinks a bit, so I usually add a little more compost on the top. 

Just more of the same, in this case growbag compost.  Had spare ones put by for it.

[tim]

Don't mean to be a spoilsport, but I was always taught that trusses should be shielded against hot sunshine?? And you need plenty of leaves for sustenance??

I found this very nicely written.

http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00031.asp

[tricia]

Excellent link Tim, thank you. I've forwarded it to my friend in the hope that he will finally understand what side shoots are - and why they should be removed ::). I've explained till I'm blue in the face, so I'm beginning to think he deliberately leaves all side shoots for me to discover on my weekly visits ;).

The writer removes ALL the leaves below the first truss so I'll be out doing the same first thing in the morning :). My toms are planted too close really, so a bit more air will do them good.

Tricia