Tomatoes supported by their ropes. First truss carrying fruit, second in flower, third in bud. A hot day today so the top leaves are looking sad due to transpiration. The bed and the path are wetted down, the atmosphere is buoyant, the smell tropical.
Another good reason for tickling the flowers to guarantee pollination, (and talking to the plants) is the up close attention you pay. Signs of pest damage and disease are easy to overlook. Side shoots can be missed and grow huge.
The author of a book advertised on here says. Remove the lower leaves to stop them depriving the fruit and upper growth of air. I don't agree, there has got to be more than ample air available. Just remove the side shoots to stop them overcrowding.
Whilst paying them attention, talking if you wish, you exhale CO2 and enrich the content around the plants. Enough for them to notice, I doubt it. It sure does no harm. In huge commercial, computer controlled houses they monitor CO2 levels and inject bursts from cylinders.
