Does anyone else to this to their tomato plants?

[wdwmom2]

On the way home from work there is this little garden with tomato plants. Everything looked normal until about 1 week ago I noticed that the plants have been stripped of their leaves. Lots of tomatos hanging but not a single leaf. I am assuming this was done to help ripen the fruit. Am I correct??? Does anyone else do this???

Makes me want to go home and "undress" all my tomato plants !

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I've heard of many things...removing sucker branches, root pruning to hasten ripening, but I've never heard of completely stripping leaves. Seems rather counterintuitive, but I don't know all the "tricks" of veggie gardening...maybe this is one of those?
Or possibly a hornworm infestation? They can do a terrific job of denuding a plant of all foliage in a very short amount of time.

 

[wdwmom2]

I've heard of many things...removing sucker branches, root pruning to hasten ripening, but I've never heard of completely stripping leaves. Seems rather counterintuitive, but I don't know all the "tricks" of veggie gardening...maybe this is one of those?
Or possibly a hornworm infestation? They can do a terrific job of denuding a plant of all foliage in a very short amount of time.

I don't think that it is a bug problem. DH worked at the same place as her and knows her fairly well. Her dad is a farmer. Because of that, I am guessing that there is a valid reason behind stripping the leaves. I'll have to stop by her house one day on my way home from work and inquire.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Any answers yet? I'm wondering what the reasons are, and whether it seems to be working.

 

[wdwmom2]

Any answers yet? I'm wondering what the reasons are, and whether it seems to be working.

Next time I'm on my way home from work and see her outside I will stop and ask.

 

[sunny_]

We've never done this. Curious... I thought the leaves helped with photosynthesis which helped the plant grow. They took ALL of the leaves off?? I've never seen a naked tomato plant! lol

 

[DebºoºS]

I've heard a Hornworm can strip a tomato plant in a few days. I've heard that farmers strip off the bottom leaves of the plant to prevent disease.Some people take leaves off the top to get light to the tomato to make it ripen faster. Never heard of stripping the whole thing