Several years ago, Organic Gardening (wich used to be a good, useful magazine, but is no more, IMO) reported a number of research studies showed that yield is not reduced by faioing to sucker plants. Fruits are smaller, but there are more of them. suckering can help to reduce some diseases, by improving air flow. As long as there is good, heavey muclchunder the plants, staking is not necessary, but you may lose more fruit to 'predators" or rot from contact with the ground.

Janie