Removing suckers from indeterminate tomatoes
I grow a large tomato garden every year. Have been for 30 years. Do you think removing the "suckers" actually helps the tomato produce more? I have mixed emotions. I think depends on the variety. Brandwine and German Johnson both are slow producers but excellent tomatoes for eating.
I wrote down my observations here for my large fruited indeterminates
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33806
University study...
From this report
https://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/veg/reports/tomvar00f/tomvar00.html
Moderate Pruning compared to No Pruning [I think that 'moderate pruning' was removing the lowest four suckers...many people suggest removing all suckers below the first fruit cluster to increase airflow and reduce disease, but that is for indeterminants.]
"Averaged over all beefsteak cultivars, pruning reduced yield of No. 1 fruit and total yield by 38%, and increased fruit size by 25% "
Effect of pruning
Light, Moderate, and Heavy Pruning
"On average, for each branch left on the plant, No. 1 yield increased by 1.75 lb. per plant, or roughly 10%."
Note that 'No.1' is a fruit size and quality designation.
Although this study was for determinant varieties it reflects what I saw on my indeterminants, in that the main trunk produces half or more of the fruit so it would be more productive to squeeze multiple pruned single vine plants into a given space the way commercial greenhouses do.
As for the practice of limited pruning of late season suckers that have no chance of producing--I don't know. I take them off to open up the interior space of my cages, and hope that they are using nutrients that could go into building better tasting fruit.
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33806
University study...
From this report
https://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/veg/reports/tomvar00f/tomvar00.html
Moderate Pruning compared to No Pruning [I think that 'moderate pruning' was removing the lowest four suckers...many people suggest removing all suckers below the first fruit cluster to increase airflow and reduce disease, but that is for indeterminants.]
"Averaged over all beefsteak cultivars, pruning reduced yield of No. 1 fruit and total yield by 38%, and increased fruit size by 25% "
Effect of pruning
Light, Moderate, and Heavy Pruning
"On average, for each branch left on the plant, No. 1 yield increased by 1.75 lb. per plant, or roughly 10%."
Note that 'No.1' is a fruit size and quality designation.
Although this study was for determinant varieties it reflects what I saw on my indeterminants, in that the main trunk produces half or more of the fruit so it would be more productive to squeeze multiple pruned single vine plants into a given space the way commercial greenhouses do.
As for the practice of limited pruning of late season suckers that have no chance of producing--I don't know. I take them off to open up the interior space of my cages, and hope that they are using nutrients that could go into building better tasting fruit.