Trim bottom limbs to provide more fruit on tomato & bell pepper plants a good idea?
Question:I've heard it is a good idea to take off limbs (suckers?) of tomatoes for better production.Is that true and if so would it also benefit my bell pepper plants as they have also become quite bushy.
Answers:
It's not worth the time and effort. If you do get any gains it is very very minimal. What makes more of a difference is how they are planted. Plant more of the stem in the ground for tomato plants to get a larger root systlem. I think the same thing can be done for pepper plants. Then the rest is watering and fertilizing and sunlight.
On your tomato plants only take leaves that are close to the ground and if the plant is growing tall and not bushing out you can pinch the top off to help it bush out and produce but I have never heard of taking off limbs. as for bell pepper you can put one table spoon of Epsom salts to one gallon of water and wate until late in the evening and pour over the pepper plants or you can put it in a sprayer and apply. the acid in the salt makes the plant produce more.
I'm doing it this year. I grow 25 plants every year and I'm tired of tomatoes lying on the ground, so I'm cutting the small "branches on the bottom. I'm curious of ant difference it will make but I don't think it will make much.
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