Remove Tomato Blossoms?

by Jenifer
(Mid-Michigan)

Should we remove the blossoms from our tomato plants or leave them alone?


Hi Jenifer,

You should leave the tomato blossoms alone. The tomato blossoms develop into fruit. If you remove the blossoms you will not have any tomatoes growing on your plant.

If you watch the blossoms over a period of time (about a week or so), you will see the blossom shrivel or wither, and a tiny green tomato start to grow from the center of the blossom.

If you watch other plants in your garden, you will notice that all the above-ground vegetables produce their fruit from the flowers or blossoms.

This process of flowering is not how root-crop vegetables such as carrots, beets, onions, or turnips develop, but it is how vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, and squash produce their fruit (which are called vegetables!).