Whether to cut off the lower leaves of a tomato and how to do it correctly. How, what and when to pick off the leaves of tomatoes, and most importantly - why? When to cut off the first leaves on tomatoes
04.02.2018
Hello dear readers! Almost every one of us grows tomatoes on our plot or has come across this occupation for one reason or another. special scientific knowledge this process does not require, but here are some care efforts you need to make. At the same time, one of the main questions is this: is it necessary to cut off lower leaves at tomatoes? This is what puzzles gardeners now and causes considerable controversy.
Is there a need to trim the leaves?
Opinions differ widely on this issue, but experienced gardeners they are inclined to believe that this has a very good effect on the condition of the plants and on the future harvest, therefore it is necessary to cut off.
There are several reasons for this:
- the lower leaves, due to their large volume, are able to evaporate a lot of moisture and consume a significant amount of minerals that are necessary for the normal formation of fruits;
- the lower leaves often touch moist soil and may begin to rot, which provokes the growth of bacteria and the occurrence of diseases;
- the free movement of air can also be hindered by the massive lower foliage, which allows harmful bacteria to multiply.
Due to improper care may appear yellow leaves with stains that should also be removed. Otherwise, they can form an environment for the development of dangerous diseases. The same should be done with dry sheets. A thickened crown also needs to be thinned out periodically to improve ventilation and reduce consumption. nutrients.
When and how to cut off the lower leaves?
Sometimes removing the lower leaves does not give a satisfactory result. This can be explained by the fact that the procedure was carried out incorrectly or out of time. If the first signs of leaf drying are found, then the dried part should be removed immediately.
Do not be too zealous when removing parts of the crown of the bush, because it is she who is responsible for such important processes as photosynthesis. Only those foliage that is located in the northern part of the bush and in its depth should be removed.
The leaves located below the inflorescence are cut off in several stages, gradually. Why such difficulties? Why, the stem can still continue to grow and form new flower stalks, but they will only additionally load the plant, so it would be better to remove them. A newly formed shoot with inflorescences is left only if few fruits are set on the main one.
Removing leaves and shoots from tomatoes
Many gardeners do not know how to properly remove leaves. It is better to perform the procedure in the morning, choosing clear and warm weather for this. In this case, the wounds on the plant will heal quickly and the bacteria will not have time to penetrate there.
It is necessary not to overdo it when removing foliage. How often and how much to do it? The best option is a couple of pieces per week, but this number can be adjusted for each case individually. Larger scales can be tolerated when there is a high risk of developing diseases.
As soon as the first fruits appear, it is recommended to remove all the leaves located to the bottom of the first brush. However, the time for their elimination can be determined earlier: often, when the plant develops, the leaves turn yellow from below and die off. Of course, they need to be removed in a timely manner.
In the greenhouse, this procedure has its own characteristics. Here the bush is formed due to pinching, and the need to remove the leaves arises due to the large density and poor air circulation. Its humidity begins to rise sharply, which not only causes foliage to fall off, but also a good environment for the development of bacteria and harmful microorganisms.
IN open field these processes occur somewhat differently and it is somewhat easier to ventilate the bushes, since there is a natural air circulation.
Tomatoes are quite painful and problematic crops, especially in regions with a damp climate. And so they need constant good care and disease prevention. In this part, leaf cutting has proven itself very well as an effective preventive method.
In addition, this procedure contributes to the enlargement of the fruits and their early ripening, which sometimes plays a very important role. The plant will not lose energy and nutrients to unnecessary elements, but will be completely focused on the ovary and fruiting.
However, it is also necessary to maintain certain distances when planting between bushes in order to avoid a large accumulation of plants. This distance directly depends on the variety and size that an adult bush can reach.
Growing tomatoes in middle lane also has some peculiarity. In addition to removing the bottom sheets, you should also pinch the top of the plant in the month of August. The newly formed fruits are unlikely to have time to ripen before the end of the season, and the plant will lose a lot of strength on them.
Some gardeners practice rooting these tops for additional yield, but this requires some practice and dexterity.
Cherry tomato varieties are much less demanding on “plucking”. Their crown is not so dense,
and the fruits are quite small, which provides good ventilation.
The main thing is not to allow the leaves to touch the soil.
The need to remove leaves is determined by appearance and the state of the bush. You should not use any other tips and recommendations, because you can instead positive result harm the plant. Too weak a crown will cause insufficient photosynthesis processes, which is extremely harmful for tomatoes.
The leaves also protect the fruits from sunburn and the impact of negative factors environment, therefore, the complete absence of greenery, although it will not lead to the death of the plant, will have an extremely negative impact on its health and fertility. It is quite possible that you will not wait for fruiting from such a "bald" bush.
Together with leaf picking, it is possible to carry out additional processing tomatoes with various preparations, but it is recommended to do this before fruiting.
Under no circumstances should you use chemicals at the time of the beginning of the ripening of tomatoes!
You also need to remember that root fertilizers and medicines can be absorbed and, together with the juice, get into the fruits, which you will then eat. That is why think very carefully before giving preference to one or another method of plant protection: will it harm your own health?
Tomato culture needs care, however, like any other (greenhouse, hybrid). The issue of breaking foliage in tomato bushes for summer residents is no less important than the schedule for watering and feeding plants. When to pick off the leaves of tomatoes in a greenhouse - read our article.
It does not matter where you will collect red, ripe fruits: on the street or in a greenhouse. The breakage of excess and diseased foliage is difficult to dispute.
So, the reasons why the leaves on tomato bushes need to be removed:
- the lower leaves (especially if they are large) evaporate a lot of moisture, which is so necessary for the whole plant. In addition, these leaves take a lot of useful energy for their growth, instead of sending it to the formation of fruits;
- increased density due to leaves in the greenhouse disrupts air exchange, which can lead to fungal infection or the invasion of harmful insects;
- wet after watering, the leaves begin to come into contact with each other and with the soil. This will almost certainly lead to late blight or another bacterial disease.
Which leaves need to be cut off
If you think carefully, tomato leaves (like all plant leaves in general) are a full-fledged part of the plant that fulfills its assigned role.
However, the purpose of growing cultivated plant is to obtain healthy and large fruits. Therefore, we will approach the breakage of excess foliage rationally.
To be removed:
- blackened and dry leaves;
- leaves in black spots (infection can spread from them);
- leaves growing from north side;
- leaves growing in the depths of the bush (they interfere with air exchange);
- leaves and stepchildren grown in a fruit brush;
- leaves growing at the very bottom;
- leaves growing at the top of the bush;
- the so-called stepchildren (growing in the leaf sinus).
If for some reason you are late with planting, and extra leaves have already appeared, wait a week. Let the bush take root well.
How do you know if a plant needs cleaning? Take a close look at your greenhouse or ground tomato bushes. Have they become too branchy? Get down to business boldly.
There are no strict rules regarding leaf breakage, but experienced gardeners consider it acceptable to remove 3-4 leaves 2 times a week. If you notice the spread of any disease, do not postpone this event. Urgently remove all diseased leaves and treat the bushes.
If your tomatoes grow outdoors, don't touch them when it rains. Wait for a dry and warm morning. So dirt will not get into microranks. You can break off the leaves, or you can work as a pruner. The main thing is not to remove thin strips of skin, this can harm the plant.
Leaves growing in the shade will not bring benefits, they can be safely removed.
If you are confused by the wounds left on the stems, you can make a simple disinfectant solution from potassium permanganate. Many gardeners always keep such a solution at hand, on a shelf in a greenhouse. They can also clean the secateurs before starting such work.
If there are no ovaries on the brush yet, you need to wait with a break. As soon as enough fruits are tied on the brush, feel free to tear all the leaves below it.
Some summer residents remove absolutely all the foliage (leaving a little at the top) when 8-9 brushes appear on the bush with future red fruits.
In August (when the fruits are already ripening), you can safely pinch off all that is superfluous on the tops of the bushes. The plant will not “pull” new ovaries, let it spend all its strength on existing fruits.
Do not forget about the garter of bushes, it will not only ease the load on the stem, but also allow the leaves to receive more sunlight.
Adjust the amount of moisture. Over watering will only hurt. The foliage will actively grow, and excess moisture can cause various diseases.
Why stepchildren are removed
Gardeners with experience are unanimous in their opinion that stepchildren should always be removed. Stepchildren are processes that appeared between the main trunk and its secondary process. Here are some mandatory recommendations for freeing tomato bushes from stepchildren:
- all processes under the brushes must be removed (this will improve air exchange and give access to sunlight);
- 2 times a week you need to look through all the bushes and remove several lower leaves (and if the plant is quite healthy, then breaking 6 or 7 leaves will not hurt);
- until the ovaries begin to form, in no case do not touch the upper leaves.
How to properly remove excess processes, read the next paragraph.
How to remove stepchildren correctly:
- it is better to engage in such an event in the morning (until 12 noon). Plant microwounds will heal faster;
- on a cloudy day without sun, it is better not to touch the plants;
- in order to avoid disruption of the movement of plant juice, leave 2-3 leaves at the top;
- when breaking off the process, do not point your fingers down. A strip of thin skin removed can open the way for fungi and bacteria. Point your fingers up;
- if the shoots are hard, take a pruner, having previously cleaned and disinfected it;
- the juice of tomato leaves is very caustic - put on a robe, hat or scarf, gloves before working with the bushes;
- do not cut off the stepson at the root. Leave 5 mm, it will gradually dry out and will no longer grow. If you tear it out completely, the process will appear again.
As you already understood from our article, pruning tomato bushes is not a waste of time, but taking care of the plant and a great measure to get tasty and healthy tomatoes for you and your family. To understand the process, watch the video about this agrotechnical procedure.
Tomatoes are a crop that needs special care. A vegetable cannot be called whimsical, but it requires attention to itself. Summer residents are often concerned about planting, watering, and feeding plants. Many gardeners are also interested in whether it is necessary to pick off the leaves of tomatoes, and whether such a procedure has positive influence for seedlings?
Regardless of whether tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse or open ground, gardeners always think about the need and consequences of picking leaves from a tomato.
It is known that the lower organs of the plant, which touch the ground, must be eliminated as early as possible. After all, such leaves provoke the spread of late blight and other diseases on 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 consume the fruits. After all, processed vegetables contain copper ions, which are harmful to humans.
Therefore, it is better to use agrotechnical methods: removing the lower leaves of the vegetable.
It is necessary to remove other leaves, and not just those located at the very bottom. For example, inflorescences growing below must be eliminated in stages. But this procedure can be carried out no more than twice. For the first time, it is worth cutting off the organs when the ovary acquires the size characteristic of the variety.
Leaves growing above the first inflorescence should also be cut in stages, focusing on the size of the ovary. It is not necessary to remove many organs at a time, as the tomatoes will experience stress, which can affect the quality of the crop.
Video “Why pick leaves from tomatoes”
Informative video on whether to remove the organs of tomatoes.
Leaf Removal Technique
It is necessary to carry out the procedure for the elimination of tomato leaves correctly. It is advisable to trim "unnecessary" organs in the morning and in sunny weather. So the wounds created by removal will heal faster and will not become a focus for the development of diseases.
Tomato leaves are easy to tear off if you press the petiole up, parallel to the stem. If you pull down, you can tear off a long strip of plant skin.
When signs of disease on leaves or even fruits are visible on tomato bushes in a greenhouse, such parts of the tomato should be immediately eliminated. If the disease affected only a share, then only it can be cut off, and the organ itself can be left on culture. Leaves are important organs for the nutrition and growth of a vegetable. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate them all, leaving only the top, only when 7-8 fruit clusters are formed.
An important issue for most gardeners is the question of removal technique: they can be cut off or simply cut off. Basically, there is no significant difference. The main thing is disinfection after each bush. Therefore, it is better to cut off the leaves with gloves, and after cutting, the scissors must be treated with alcohol or a saturated solution of potassium permanganate. It’s good if a bottle with a ready-made disinfectant is always at hand: in the country or in the greenhouse. After all, disinfecting the instrument will avoid mass infection of the tomato.
What leaves to cut off?
The tomato leaf is the organ responsible for the respiration of tomatoes. Therefore, gardeners, especially beginners, are often interested in: which vegetable leaves are to be cut off. Indeed, if the organ is young and healthy, then it is not worth removing it. Green and well lit, it brings many benefits to the plant. But over time, such a sheet dries, becomes stained, weakens, or even becomes a hotbed. various diseases and fungi. Therefore, such bodies must be eliminated immediately.
In addition, it is correct to take care of tomatoes - to carry out the procedure for lightening the bushes. It is necessary to eliminate all leaves growing in the north, in the shade of other crops or in depth. Such an organ is constantly in the shade and practically does not benefit the plant. Also, with the help of clarification, ventilation between the bushes can be significantly improved, which is especially important when growing vegetables in a greenhouse.
Organs that grow from a brush of flowers are also subject to liquidation. Sometimes, after color, the bush continues to grow, forming new shoots, as well as organs on it. If all the ovaries have already formed into full-fledged fruits, then it is better to eliminate such “growths”. True, if the main stem turned out to be barren, you can leave a few ovaries on such an additional one.
Some leaves should be cut off already when transplanting the crop into the soil. It is impossible to carry out the procedure immediately, as this can provoke a seedling disease. It is better to trim the leaves in stages, but after 7-10 days after transplantation, all organs must be cut off before the first ovary or flowering. Such a procedure will allow you to correctly direct the "forces" of culture - to the formation of fruits.
You can understand when to pick off the leaves of tomatoes in a greenhouse just by watching the plant. It will become too "branchy" - it's time to cut off the excess. Firstly, sometimes because of the leaves it is impossible to get close to the stem to tie it up. Secondly, the “bald” bush will get more sun and moisture.
How much and when?
It is recommended to cut 2-3 leaves of tomatoes twice a week. But still, the frequency of removal depends on the characteristics of the development of a particular plant. Sometimes you can eliminate up to 6 leaves at a time without harm to the plant.
It is necessary to correctly carry out the elimination procedure in the greenhouse, 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 the organs can be removed.
In early August, the tops of the bushes are pinched, as the remaining bushes will no longer have time to form a crop. After this procedure, you can remove all the organs, except for a few upper ones. Such actions are an excellent prevention of many diseases.
In order for sap flow to occur naturally, a couple of leaves should be left above the topmost inflorescence.
So, tearing off the leaves of tomatoes - necessary procedure positive effect on the plant. It helps to get rid of pests mechanically, not chemically. The main thing is to carry out the procedure, observing all the rules and recommendations. experienced summer residents.
Video “Pruning tomato leaves”
Video tutorial on pruning leaves from tomatoes.
Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetable crops, so they are very common in gardens. And what is a garden without a tomato bush ?! Indeed, in this case, it looks somehow clumsy. Often, summer residents have a kind of competition for the most large fruit, the most delicious and so on. In general, if you manage to grow tomatoes year after year, getting high yields, skillfully avoiding traps in the form of late blight and other diseases and pests, then you are a real gardener.
It cannot be said that tomatoes are a culture with complex agricultural technology and increased requirements to cultivation, however, tomato bushes cannot be called completely simpletons. Take, for example, the question of removing “extra” leaves: everything seems to be tritely simple - he took it and tore it off or cut it off, but in reality it turns out that you need to follow the rules and almost learn this. Controversy surrounding the need for removal leaf blades tomatoes and the effectiveness of this "event" has not subsided so far. Let's figure out what, how and when to do so that the plants do not harm, but help by picking off the leaves.
Do I need to cut off the lower leaves of tomatoes?
Let's start by finding out in general the need for this procedure, is it really necessary for the plant, and for you and me? Opinions here, as often happens, two - it is necessary or not at all necessary. But beginners often say that it’s better not to touch tomatoes at all, they say, why climb into nature, the plant itself will decide how many and what leaves it should have. Beginners often say this for the simple reason that they are corny afraid of doing harm, well - and from a lack of knowledge, of course. Professionals in their field unanimously say that it is necessary to cut off or cut off the leaves of tomatoes, and this will be useful for both the plant and you and me.
In favor of the fact that a number of leaves in tomatoes are still superfluous and they need to be removed, says that usually the more leaves and shoots on the plant, the more actively these same plants evaporate soil moisture and absorb nutrients only in order to feed it vegetative mass and only after that pay attention to the fruits. Consequently, often powerful tomato bushes, with an abundance of green mass, delight the owners with a small harvest, and the fruits themselves are not always tasty.
But that's not all, for example, the lower leaves of tomatoes, due to their sometimes rather large size, quite noticeably interfere with the normal movement and circulation of air at the base of the plants, therefore, they tritely inhibit the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the soil and adjacent leaf blades, which creates favorable environment for the development of fungal infection, including phytophthora.
In addition, such leaves of tomatoes, if they are not cut off, when watered or under the influence of raindrops, often lean to the very ground and even touch it, which leads to their decay, the formation of foci of infection and the development of concomitant diseases. It has been noticed that late blight of tomatoes starts from the lower leaves and slowly rises up the plant.
What tomato leaves to remove?
If the lower leaves turn yellow and spots appear on them, then they must be removed immediately. This is an ideal environment for the development of most tomato diseases. The yellowed lower leaves of a tomato, among other things, are often a kind of marker of improper care, that is, if they turn yellow, then this means that you are doing something wrong. At the same time, the yellowed leaves have already, one might say, died, so they must be removed immediately.
In addition to removing the lower leaves of tomatoes, both healthy and yellowed, it is also desirable to remove leaf blades that begin to dry out: it does not matter where they are located - in the lowest part or slightly higher and there are also leaves under them. Tomato leaves sometimes dry out simply because of their age: since the plant no longer needs them, you need to help it remove them, otherwise the infection will get to them.
In addition, thinning of the middle of a tomato bush can also be done, similar to thinning pruning of shrubs, but it is appropriate to remove the leaves from the side of the bush that faces north. This will provide better ventilation for the tomato bush and reduce the risk of various fungal diseases and other infections. Fattening shoots, if they grow from the very bottom, can also be safely removed, they are of little use, and they draw water and nutrients onto themselves very strongly.
Benefits of Removing the Bottom Leaves of Tomatoes
So, we hope it has become a little clearer for what purpose we recommend removing the lower leaves of a tomato, but we have not told what the advantages of this removal are, but they certainly are.
First plus- this is that after removing the lower leaves, the plant becomes a little more open, air masses circulate freely at the base of the bushes, moisture evaporates normally from the soil surface and from leaf blades, the risk of tomato phytophthora, as well as other infections, is sharply reduced (but does not disappear completely !).
Second plus- this is that we remove tomato leaves that are at risk, because, as we mentioned above, they are the first to usually get sick, this is also a plus in order to minimize the risk of phytophthora in your area.
plus third- we remove the extra parts of the vegetative mass of the tomato bush, therefore, somewhat reduce the evaporation of moisture by the plants themselves (that is, its consumption from the soil, which is especially important for summer cottages) and reduce the consumption of substances to maintain the existence of these leaves, which leads to the fact that these same substances will go to the formation of fruits.
When to cut off the leaves of a tomato and how to do it correctly?
So, we have firmly learned that it is necessary to remove the lower leaves from a tomato bush, now let's figure out when this can be done and, most importantly, how to do it correctly.
Firmly remember that in no case should you rush to remove tomato leaves: for example, if you remove them immediately after planting the seedlings, you can only make things worse, the plants may well stop growing or slow down a lot. You can remove the lower leaves only when the seedlings grow up and get stronger, for this it should take from seven to ten days. You can understand that tomato seedlings have taken root by activating its growth processes.
Before proceeding with the removal of tomato leaves, inspect all plants, first of all, remove those lower leaves that for some reason began to dry out and turn yellow, here the risk of infection is higher, and only then proceed to remove the lower leaves from healthy plants.
In the event that you still doubt the advisability of removing the lower leaf blades of a tomato, we advise you to carry out this procedure first with the leaves located on the north side of the bush. The fact is that these leaves, in addition to being below, are also located in the shade, so they practically do not participate in the processes of photosynthesis, and therefore are not needed. By removing them, you definitely will not harm the plant.
When removing tomato leaves, do not rush, follow a certain phasing, for example, by removing a couple of lower leaves, do not forget about the plant, follow it. It happens that the removal of leaf blades from a tomato provokes it to lay new inflorescences, such as good flowering plants before they appear, it is better to remove, since this is an additional and inappropriate burden on the tomato bush. It is possible to leave new ovaries only if the flowering was very sluggish before the leaves were removed, fewer inflorescences were formed than usual or than is typical for this particular tomato variety.
Try to remove the lower leaves of the tomato by pressing the petiole of the leaf at the base and pulling it up, that is, along the stem, and not across it, as if pulling it out of the nest. At the same time, try to support the tomato stem and do not pull the leaf very hard, because there is a risk of breaking off or breaking the stem. You can’t pull the leaves down either, if you do this, then you can also tear off the skin of the stem, the skin will stretch down for the torn leaf and you will get a wound into which any infection can quite easily and very quickly get.
It is advisable to remove the lower leaves of a tomato not in cloudy and cool weather, as for some reason many people do it, but, on the contrary, on a sunny and fine day, but always in the morning (at 7-8 in the morning, when the sun is already shining with might and main) when plants are at maximum turgor. The fact is that on a sunny day, the wound left in place of the former leaf will heal much faster than on a cloudy day, and the risk of infection entering the wound will be minimal.
When starting to remove the lower leaves of a tomato, you should not be too zealous, the main rule applies here - do no harm. Leaves can be removed no more than twice a week at one time by removing or cutting out two or three sheets, no more. Only such a removal of leaf blades will not injure the plants too much, and they will survive this procedure without problems.
The basic rule when removing the lower leaves of a tomato, which must be firmly learned, is the following: if the fruits have not yet set in the brush, then on the shoots on which the brush itself is placed, it is advisable to remove no more than one lower leaf, but if all the fruits in the brush have already started, then below this brush you can break out absolutely all the leaf blades, leaving literally a bunch of leaves only at the top. But just below the brush, the lower leaves of the tomato, and not the upper ones.
The first wave of leaf removal can be safely carried out after the entire ovary has formed, and the second wave can be carried out when the tomatoes are finally formed and begin to color. Thus, we will send the maximum amount of nutrients to the fruits, but at the same time as removing leaf blades, it is important to moderate the amount of watering, otherwise excess moisture can cause fruit cracking. If it rains, then watering the tomatoes should be completely abandoned and more often loosen the soil at the base of the plant in order to increase evaporation and prevent moisture stagnation.
So, as we understood: it is not only possible, but also necessary to remove the lower leaves of tomatoes, in this way you can solve a bunch of problems - provide nutrition and moisture to the fruits, improve their taste and weight, increase yields and even reduce the risk of mushroom infections to a minimum. The main thing at the same time is to do everything correctly and on time.
Among experienced summer residents there is no agreement on the question of how many leaves should be removed from a tomato bush for better fruiting. Some remove all foliage clean, leaving only fruits on the branches. Others - on the contrary, even stepchildren do not clean. Of course, whoever wants to grow good harvest tomatoes in your area, wondering how many leaves to leave on a bush? Let's try to figure it out. Even without biological education, it is clear that leaves are a full-fledged organ of any plant. That is, they are directly related to nutrition processes, just like roots and stems. The task of the leaves is the absorption of carbon dioxide, which in the process of photosynthesis turns into organic matter, necessary for the plant. When the number of leaves is reduced, there is tremendous stress, your green pets literally find themselves on a starvation diet. The question arises, why do all gardeners repeat this procedure from year to year? Obviously, there are still advantages to the crop in removing leaves. Which leaves to cut While the bush is growing, the number of leaves removed should not exceed 2-3 pieces twice a week. And you need to remove only the lower leaves. At the end of July, you can begin such a procedure as pinching the tops. Despite the fact that branches with flowers still appear at the top, they can be removed, they still most likely will not have time to ripen before the onset of cold weather. Some time after this, it will be possible to remove all the leaves on the bush, except for a few located above the uppermost brush. During this period, green mass is no longer so important, it is important to accelerate the ripening of fruits. How to remove leaves from tomato bushes IMPORTANT! In no case should you remove all the leaves at once. This will lead to the fact that the plant will recuperate after suffering stress, and not grow fruit. This is a simple matter, but still remember that the plant will experience stress, so you should take care of the most painless removal. The best time for this is the morning of a sunny day. The wounds will have time to dry out in a day, and the evening coolness will not harm the plant. Leaves must also be removed very carefully. Press the leaf stalk at the very base to the stem and pull it up. If you pull down, you can tear off strips of the delicate epidermis, violating the integrity of the stem. There is a misconception that removing the lower leaves helps fight late blight. But long-term observations show that the disease, as a rule, affects the entire plant, and not only the leaves, but also the stems. Therefore, you should not expect that you can get rid of only the removal of leaves. You will have to remove the entire bush, especially if your planting is tight enough. So, now is the time to slowly remove the leaves, but this activity should be approached without undue enthusiasm. ***************************************** ALSO SEE THE BEST RECIPES SEE THE LINK
