Allotments 4 All

I have been reading with interest comments on some of the American sites about this book which seems to basically say that you take nearly all the leaves off tomato plants to increase the crop.  Does anyone know anything about this?  This is a link written by the author: http://www.joyfultomato.com/?gclid=CNCBoNzKxosCFRlmWAod7xHQHw

Don't really know what to think!

Once the fruit has set on the first trusses, we have for years started to remove the lower leaves. We thought we were doing it to allow more light to the fruit however.

We actually started off by cutting each lower set of leaves back by about half, and later removing all together. We have always had a fairly good crop, and it doesn't seem to do the plants any harm, so long as you don't go too mad all at once.

Yes - there are dozens of them. If it was the best, all the growers would do it? Photosynthesis?

Give a new slimming recipe??

No aspersions!!

PS Yes, we too remove the lower fronds when they've done their job & start to discolour, on grounds of better ventilation & watering access.

If it was good for the plant it would happen naturally, mother nature is quite clever like that.

H'mm, I wonder if his Grandad mulched them with Bovine Excreta....   :-X

Had a look on Google about this and found this

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg0402320312869.html

So all it not as it appears.

Bill...

Quote from: bison1947 on May 04, 2007, 10:10:35
Had a look on Google about this and found this

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg0402320312869.html

So all it not as it appears.

Bill...

I just posted on GardenWeb, as follows:

Hang on a moment, Mr Postawski. You say very clearly on your website to leave no more than three small leaves on each plant. The story of your grandfather's that you quote equally clearly says that he cut off ALL the leaves. You're back-pedalling furiously if you pretend that means only the leaves below the first trusses.

My late mother was taken in by this nonsense a few years ago. We'd helped her to grow some very healthy Ailsa Craig tomato plants, and she was looking forward to the delicious harvest of tomatoes. It looked like a good crop, too. Then one weekend we paid our normal visit to find that she'd stripped the leaves off the plants. She'd "seen them do it on the television".

The plants didn't die, but went into arrested development. The half-formed tomatoes stayed green, and didn't get any bigger.

It was a cruel trick to play on an old lady, in my opinion.

As for the "Joyful Tomato" website and book, it looks as though it's been written by someone more accustomed to ransom notes ...

Quote from: wavy on May 04, 2007, 07:21:30
If it was good for the plant it would happen naturally, mother nature is quite clever like that.

I noticed that last year the bottom set of leaves on my tomato plants (Cost. Fiorentino and Alicante) did start to turn yellow and drop so maybe this is natures way?  However, I can't remember if it was nearer to the end of the growing season...?

Not necessarily - read my note. When their job is done they tell you!

This is a bit confusing but it seems to suggest removing the lower leaves?

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

Quote from: tim on May 04, 2007, 16:13:21
Not necessarily - read my note. When their job is done they tell you!

This is a bit confusing but it seems to suggest removing the lower leaves?

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

That looks like excellent advice to me.  I recognise the "reluctant to admit the season's over" syndrome, too.  :)