I've got a question about some tomato plants I have. I have 2 types growing and they are both heirloom varieties (Jim's Big Red, and Pink Belgium Giants....I think). Both types germinated very well and I have planted 9 in various places in my backyard (7 in the ground, 1 in a 5 gallon bucket, and 1 in a raised bed box I built). The ground planted ones are all looking very nice, and 4 very nice looking plants, at least 6 feet tall. Funny thing about the largest plants is 3 are loaded with tomatoes...none ripe yet, but the other large plant has no tomatoes whatsoever on it....loaded with flowers, but flowers are dropping before tomatoes can form. I haven't used any type of Miracle Grow or fertilizer on them at all. Anyone have any ideas??
Tomato plant question
- Thread starter superdv1
- Start date
Here are something that may help with your Tomatoes they are self pollinating for the most part,but weather conditions Nighttime temperatures above 70 degrees F or below 50 degrees F
uneven moisture to the plants could be the culprit causing the flowers to fall off before the fruits have a chance to set here are some things it could also be Excess nitrogen Too little sun or Drought stress I feed mine in that's in a 5 gallon bucket (upsidedown) every two weeks with Miracle Grow(If You Do Feed Don't Over Feed Them) and water every two days. come to think of it I had flowers fall off of mine in the 5 gallon bucket the one that's upsidedown and the problem cleared it's self up after the temps got out of the 90 and cooled off a little at night (around 70)you can do Hand pollination if you feel it is necessary to keep the flowers 1.gently shake the plant every couple of days to advance pollination 2.taking a Q-tip or small paint brush and transferring the pollen from the male flower to the female. Make sure to clean the brush or use a new Q-tip when pollinating more than one type of the same plant. 3.to vibrate the tomato plant with a electric toothbrush (not the brush part, just the handle) several times a day during flowering will pollinate the plants.As I mentioned above it works just as well. And vibrating or shaking is no good unless the pollen is viable and since the major reason why tomatoes don't pollinate are temps too high or too cold, or humidity levels high, one should be aware that nothing will help under those conditions.
here is a picture of mine
uneven moisture to the plants could be the culprit causing the flowers to fall off before the fruits have a chance to set here are some things it could also be Excess nitrogen Too little sun or Drought stress I feed mine in that's in a 5 gallon bucket (upsidedown) every two weeks with Miracle Grow(If You Do Feed Don't Over Feed Them) and water every two days. come to think of it I had flowers fall off of mine in the 5 gallon bucket the one that's upsidedown and the problem cleared it's self up after the temps got out of the 90 and cooled off a little at night (around 70)you can do Hand pollination if you feel it is necessary to keep the flowers 1.gently shake the plant every couple of days to advance pollination 2.taking a Q-tip or small paint brush and transferring the pollen from the male flower to the female. Make sure to clean the brush or use a new Q-tip when pollinating more than one type of the same plant. 3.to vibrate the tomato plant with a electric toothbrush (not the brush part, just the handle) several times a day during flowering will pollinate the plants.As I mentioned above it works just as well. And vibrating or shaking is no good unless the pollen is viable and since the major reason why tomatoes don't pollinate are temps too high or too cold, or humidity levels high, one should be aware that nothing will help under those conditions.
here is a picture of mine
6ft is a very tall plant, I usually pinch out the growing tips at just over 5ft, the problem with growing them so tall is that you will get an abundance of slow growing inferior fruits rather than a smaller crop of tastier fruits. I would suggest pinching out the growing tips and using some tomato feed once a week.
