Do not remove all suckers when desucker-ing, since it will restrict your choice of sucker selection six months after planting. Select two to three suckers and control the growth by cutting off the tops, but not destroying them. To avoid damage to the parent plant get rid of other suckers by cutting them off at ground level or pulling them out of the ground. Keep the most vigorous sucker. De- suckering with gouges, diesel etc, can start when the plant is 1.5 cm tall.
Young tissue cultured plants are vulner-able to weeds.
To control the weeds, hand hoe until the plants have reached 2 m. Do not use herbicides prior to this as the plants are too sensitive to chemicals. Tissue cultured plants are extremely sensitive to CMV which is displayed as yellow streaking of the leaves. Remove any plants showing these symptoms to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Pest control Caterpillars, the most common pest to young tissue cultured plants, can do significant damage to the leaves and growing points of the young plants. Registered insecticides will keep them under control.