Tomatoes are a crop, which requires special care. Vegetables can not be called capricious, but he demands attention to himself. Summer residents are often concerned about planting, watering, plant nutrition. Many gardeners are also interested: whether it is necessary to cut off leaves at tomatoes, and whether such a procedure has a positive effect on seedlings?
Why and why?
Regardless, grow tomatoes in a greenhouse or open ground, gardeners always think about the need and consequences of cutting off the leaves in a tomato.
It is known, that the lower organs of the plant, relating to land, should be eliminated as soon as possible. After all, such letters provoke the spread of late blight and other diseases in the culture. Yes, and many pathogenic microorganisms live in the soil and can easily move to the plant. You can fight the disease with substances, containing copper. But such a "struggle" will not benefit those, who will eat the fruit. After all, processed vegetables contain copper ions, which are harmful to humans.
Therefore, it is better to use agronomic methods: removal of the lower leaves of vegetables.
Other leaves should be removed, and not just located at the bottom. Example, growing below the inflorescence should be eliminated gradually. But such a procedure can be performed no more often, than twice. It is necessary to cut off bodies for the first time then, when the ovary acquires the size of the variety.
Growing above the first inflorescence leaves should also be pruned in stages, focusing on the size of the ovary. You do not need to remove many organs at once, so tomatoes will experience stress, which may affect the quality of the crop.
Video "Why cut off the leaves of tomatoes"
Cognitive video about that, whether to remove the organs of tomatoes.
Leaf removal technique
Carry out the procedure to eliminate tomato leaves properly. It is desirable to cut the "unnecessary" organs in the morning and in sunny weather. So the wounds, created by deleting, will heal faster and will not become a center of disease development.
When the tomato bones in the greenhouse show signs of disease on the leaves or even fruits, then such parts of the tomato should be eliminated immediately. If the disease has affected only a fraction, then only it can be cut, and the body itself to leave in culture. Leaves are important organs for nutrition and vegetable growth. Therefore, eliminate them all, leaving only the top, possible only when formed 7-8 fruit brushes.
The issue of removal techniques remains important for most gardeners: they can be cut or simply cut off. In principle, there is no significant difference. The main thing - disinfection after each bush. Therefore, it is better to cut off the leaves in gloves, and after cutting the scissors should be treated with alcohol or a saturated solution of manganese. All right, if a bottle of ready-made disinfectant is always at hand: in the country or in a greenhouse. After all, disinfecting the tool will avoid mass infection of tomatoes.
What leaves to cut off?
Tomato leaf - organ, responsible for the respiration of tomatoes. Therefore, gardeners, especially beginners, often interested: which vegetable leaves are subject to cutting. Really, if the body is young and healthy, then it should not be removed. Green and well lit., it brings many benefits to the plant. But over time, that leaf dries, covered with spots, weakens or becomes a breeding ground for various diseases and fungi. Therefore, such bodies must be eliminated immediately.
in addition, take care of tomatoes properly - carry out the procedure of lighting the bushes. It is necessary to eliminate all the leaves, growing in the north, in the shadow of other cultures or in the depths. Such an organ is constantly in the shade and is of little use to the plant. Also with the help of lighting can significantly improve the ventilation between the bushes, which is especially important when growing vegetables in a greenhouse.
Bodies are also subject to liquidation, growing from a brush of flowers. Sometimes after flowering the bush continues to grow, forming new shoots, as well as the organs on it. If all the ovaries have already formed into full-fledged fruits, then it is better to eliminate such "growths". Truth, if the main stem was hollow, you can leave a few ovaries on this extra.
Some leaves should be cut off when transplanting the crop into the ground. Only the procedure cannot be performed immediately, as this can provoke seedling disease. It is better to cut the leaves in stages, but through 7-10 days after transplantation, all organs before the first ovary or flowering should be cut off. This procedure will allow you to properly direct the "forces" of culture - on fruit formation.
Understand, when you cut off the leaves of tomatoes in the greenhouse and you can just watch the plant. If it becomes too "green" - it's time to cut off the excess. Firstly, sometimes it is impossible to get to the stem because of the leaves, to tie up. Secondly, "Bald" bush will get more sun and moisture.
How much and when?
It is recommended to prune 2-3 tomato leaf twice a week. But still the frequency of removal depends on the development of a particular plant. Sometimes you can eliminate up to 6 leaves at a time without harm to the plant.
Proper liquidation procedure in the greenhouse is required, following the rule - when the fruits have not yet set, all the leaves should remain above them. And when the ovaries are formed, below them all organs can be removed.
In early August, pinching the top of the bushes, as the remaining bushes will not have time to form a crop. After this procedure, you can remove all organs, except for the top few. Such actions are an excellent prevention of many diseases.
so, cutting off the leaves of tomatoes - a necessary procedure, has a positive effect on the plant. It helps get rid of mechanical pests, and not chemically. The main thing is to carry out the procedure, following all the rules and recommendations of experienced gardeners.
Video "Pruning Tomato Leaves"
Video guide for pruning the leaves of tomatoes.