Hi,

This is my first year growing anything and I've become a bit obsessed with growing Heirloom tomatoes. I started with 3 seedlings from a local nursery and I'm now up to 30 plants and growing :-)

I'm in New Zealand so we are just coming into the peak of summer and things are going well. Fruit is almost ready on my first seedlings, the second batch of plants I got is already more than 6 feet high (only two months since transplant), and my youngest plants (two months since sowing the seeds) are looking incredibly healthy. About 18 different varieties, mostly Heirlooms. I have been giving them a steady dose of comfrey tea and it seems to be working.

Question though about my youngest plants...

I pruned to between 6 - 12 inches above the soil line but the leaves are so long (I'd say at least a foot and a half) that they are starting to touch the soil, which I understand is a big no-no. With that said, if I prune these bottom leaves I will be robbing the plant of all that photosynthesis, and the plants are starting to blossom already and I didn't know if that would be smart.

These plants are still young, some are actually shorter than the leaves are long. If I prune the bottom leaves there will be hardly anything left to support the new blossoms and I imagine it might stress the plants a bit.

What would you guys do? Prune off those leaves, create something to keep them off the ground, or just leave them be?

I have mulch down so they aren't getting too much soil contact, but I'm sure watering is pushing some soil up to the surface here and there.

Thanks in advance.