rile wrote:

Was wondering if anyone has pruned the bottom couple of stems from
tomato plants with any kind of success?* It seems to me that they
never produce anything, are the first to get diseased, and probably
take energy from the growing of the fruit.* It would also help get air
in and around the plant to promote drying of the leaves which would
also help prevent disease.* I'd like to try it this year if I knew it
would be somewhat successful.

I do it automatically* -* every year.** Just as i heap soil up the main
stem
a bit to encourage more / higher root growth.
I also pinch out the sucker shoots that develop between the main stem and
side stems.** There are opposing schools of thought on this practice too,
but my plants always thrive and produce well.

D
*