Phosphorous in earth tainers?

[Dewayne mater]

A fellow tomato grower tells me that phosphorous helps a plant flower as well as helps flowers set. Is that true?

If this is true, can I soak granular phosphorous in water and put that in the earth tainer fill tube? Are there better ways to get quick results with flowering and fruit set in what is likely to be very short season left to set fruit before the big heat takes over.

My plants are mostly looking great, growing great. Some are setting great. A few aren't setting at all yet (brandywine from croatia, goose creek, earl's faux) though the plants look great. G.C. and E.F. have always been later to set fruit for me, and BWC may fall into that category as well. Yes, I shake all my plants regularly to provide the assist. We've also had plenty of wind which should help, and has on other plants. Thanks for your input.

Dewayne mater

[fortyonenorth]

If you're using Tomato Tone or another type of complete tomato fertilizer, you're not going to see a benefit of adding additional P. Phosphorus is a critical nutrient but is required in relatively small amounts.

If you do decide that you want to add phosphorus, you'll have better luck with a synthetic form, such as diammonium phosphate (better) or triple super (not as good). Organic forms, such as colloidal phosphate or rock phosphate are not water soluble. So, used in the manner you suggested, they will provide practically no benefit.

[Dewayne mater]

Thanks! Yes, I use tomato tone. I also use foliar sprays like seaweed, fish, Howard Garretts compost tea, for positive action, excel g, actinovate, serenade and daconil for diseases,, bt, neem, spinosad and just got some permerethrin if the former don't do it for bugs. I feel like I'm constantly spraying this year with so many bugs and diseases!

Any thoughts on how to get more blossoms to set fruit beyond shaking them?

Dewayne mater

[DogsandDirt]

I'm having the same problem with regular containers and raised beds, also using Tomato Tone. Lots of blossoms but, unfortunately, a lot of blossom drop. I'm wondering if it's the high humidity? Right now it's 83 degrees and humidity is 71% (heat index 89 - gross). It seems like this has been are more humid spring?

[Dewayne mater]

DandD - what started as a mild, pleasant March, has been a steamy gross April. Of concern is if we will have a smoking hot May that does in the fruit set altogether. I've definitely got the infrastructure in place now with the plants, if I can just get more fruit setting and keep the bugs and disease at bay. It would really help if we could get some cooler nights. These lows in the 70s with high humidity just don't result in a lot of fruit set. I'll keep shaking the plants and see what happens. Good luck to you.

Dewayne mater

[lapk78]

I may be mistaken, but I believe this its set to be an El Niño year, which means high humidity across the board in the U.S.

[lapk78]

I forget where I heard this, but in some forum somewhere I read that touching each blossom with an ultra-sonic toothbrush is a great way the to encourage fruit to set. The high frequency vibrations supposedly mimic those of a bee. I only have 6 plants, but a few weeks ago I used the ultrasonic and a few days later my plants were covered in fruit. There are now over 60 in total. If I had to guess, I'd give credit to the toothbrush.

[JamesL]

All you TX growers seen to have it the worst!

lapk78,
Good call on the toothbrush.
Despite the statement that tomatoes are self-pollinating, that isn't really true, and they do need some help. Whether it is bees, shaking the trusses by hand, the wind, or the electric toothbrush.
As you mention, The tooth brush purported mimics the "sonic action" of the bees wings which shakes the pollen loose and gets it where it needs to be, on the stigma.
Best time of day to shake or use the brush is between 10 and 4, when the flowers are open. There is an oddity to that - with enough motion, ie morning wind, etc, the flowers can pollinate without ever opening up!
Dry days are better as well.
If you can, do it multiple times over the course of the day as you want to try to encourage "full pollination". Cat faced or other misshapen fruit are usually cause by poor pollination.
Large tomatoes need better pollination.
Humidity, either high or low is bad. if too dry the pollen won't stick, too damp and it is already stuck.
High temps and rain can also cause poor pollination. As can early season low temps....
Best temps for pollination- between 60 and 70.
So basically you can blame poor fruit set on a whole host of factors........

[checkerkitty]

I'm in San Antonio and have been having some problems with blossom drop, too. We're supposed to hit a high of 94-97 degrees today. I've been hitting the blooms with my old Sonicare toothbrush pretty much everyday. My neighbors probably think I'm nuts! It is really, really loud (it's just slightly broken ). However, it is working wonders. I get a shower of pollen from most of the blooms. My JD's Special C-Tex and Persimmon are really generous with the pollen release. I've seen less pollen from the Bradley and Lemon Boy tomatoes. I made two rounds yesterday, once in the morning and once around 5 pm. I had a much better pollen release in the afternoon. I think maybe it was too humid in the morning. Right now I'm showing 82% humidity at 9:13 am. I have plants in ground and in containers.

[Tracydr]

I'm working the toothbrush twice a day, too. Having the opposite problem, humidity too low. Highs to about 95-97 each day, although cool nights and mornings, still.
Just started with the toothbrush, too early to tell if it's working.
I'm also buying a misting system to set up this weekend.

[JamesL]

Tracy,
I grew in Inntainers in the basement this winter. Similar problem. Perfect temp, horribly low humidity.
Misting system should help.
I buy the 4 packs of oral b, battery toothbrushes, use'em till their are done (on my teeth) and then tape them to a stick for pollination use. the batteries last a lot longer than the brush heads.