How Many Leaves Should I Leave on Tomato Plants?

Gardeners often either start tomato seeds indoors or purchase starter plants from a nursery or greenhouse. This gives the tomato plant about a two-month head start compared to seeds that would be directly planted in the garden after the last threat of frost in the spring. When transplanting the starter plants, it is sometimes necessary to pinch off some of the leaves of the plant.

Low Leaves
- Pinch off the bottom or lower leaves of the tomato plant before transplanting into the garden. Remove any leaves that are not paired with leaves on the opposite side of the stem. This should leave only full sets of leaves on the tomato plant.
Top Leaves
- At a minimum, two pairs of true leaves should remain at the top of the plant. These leaves are necessary for photosynthesis necessary for plant growth.
Bury Them Deep
- Plant the tomato at least as deep as the soil of the pot or container in which it was growing. Or, you can plant the tomato deeper so the bottom sets of leaves are immediately above the ground. The stem of the plant will form additional roots, adding to the plant's ability to gather nutrients. This method works well with plants that have tall stems, sometimes referred to as “leggy,” with a few leaves at top.
Trench Planting
- Trench planting is another option for leggy tomato plants. Instead of burying the stem vertically, dig a horizontal trench about 4 inches deep. Remove all but the top pair of leaves from the tomato plant and bury the stem in the trench while gently bending the top of the plant upward so the leaves remain above ground. Carefully pat the soil in place. Too much pressure on the stem can cause a break. This planting method offers the same advantage as deep planting by allowing the stem to form roots.

Information on the Super Sioux Tomato

Slow Growth & Tomatoes

Growing Tomatoes

How Many Leaves Should I Leave on Tomato Plants?

Low Leaves

Top Leaves

Bury Them Deep

Trench Planting