Pruning suckers from tomato plants

Pruning suckers is a hotly debated subject with tomato growers and it's practice will vary depending upon your time, effort and beliefs. Prior to pruning suckers, I recall tomato plants growing into a tangled mess of vines with one plant trying to take over space from the others, especially when planted 2 feet apart. However, the plants still produced plenty of tomatoes although a bit smaller than the seed companies purported they would be in size. Tomato rock star Craig LeHoullier of "Epic Tomatoes" comments on suckering plants but his short segment appears to suggest that it is subjective depending upon intended results being the number of tomatoes and the size.

Tomato sucker in my garden

What is a sucker? It's a shoot that grows out of the joint where a branch intersects the main stem. If left alone it will grow into a full size branch that will set flowers and fruit. This new branch will also produce suckers that will repeat the same growth pattern exponentially. This results in a huge, bushy and sprawling plant. If you use large tomato cages and they are spaced 3+ feet apart the plant is manageable but any closer it becomes a jungle that Tarzan would find difficult to maneuver. 

Keep in mind that pruning will reduce the number of tomatoes but may increase size. Which is more important to you?  More tomatoes or bigger tomatoes? I have taken a middle stance on this issue by pruning some suckers especially on the lower level of the plant. Firstly, when planting I remove the leaves at the soil level as bury as deeply as possible. The buried stem will produce more roots to feed the plant. Once the plant starts to grow I remove the lower leaves that are wilting or damaged by insects. As the plant continues to grow I remove all the branches and suckers below the first group of flowers. At this point you will notice 2-3 main stems (1 original stem and 2 suckers that have become main stems). Most experts say 2-3 stems is sufficient to produce many and large tomatoes but again this is subjective; and relative to the size of the cage and the distance planted.

As an extreme example of pruning suckers is the way greenhouse growers grow tomatoes. They space the plants 18" apart and prune to 1 stem wrapped around a string growing to a height of 7-8 feet tall. Backyard gardeners don't go to that extent but it illustrates how pruning can vary.

As you can see, pruning can vary in process and subjectivity.  So if you dare, prune on, my friend.