Smaller fruit this year

b54red · May 29, 2011

It became apparent to me that the fruit on my tomatoes this year is noticeably smaller than last year. The plants have grown well and other than some falling to fusarium they are loaded with toms; but overall the fruit on the plants is smaller than it was last year for the same varieties. We have had some very unusual weather to which I am going to attribute this difference. This year we have had very high winds with some very hot days with almost no rainfall this whole spring; but we have also had some of the coolest nights up til a week ago.

I first noticed it with Kosovo though the plant was as healthy and big as last year the fruit coming off has been considerably smaller but I must say it is actually better tasting. I now can see this same type of result on other varieties which I also grew last year. I know it is very early in the season but this is the time in which I usually see the very largest fruits on some of these varieties. I guess I got spoiled by all the big tomatoes last year. If this better flavor continues through all the varieties then I will be perfectly happy to deal with somewhat smaller tomatoes. I guess having about and inch of rain in nearly 3 months will help the flavor but it is really hard on my water bill.

duajones · May 30, 2011

I did have some normal size tomatoes but have also experienced many fruit that are smaller than advertised. Heat, drought and above average winds contributed to it I believe.
It is always windy here in Corpus but this year we had weeks of it in a row.
No complaints about flavor for most

jeffinjonestown · May 31, 2011

Smaller FRUIT? Darnit, I need to move southward. I just finished planting out the last of my leftover seedlings.

creister · May 31, 2011

Bad year for gardens. We had 107 and 109 on Friday and Sat. with high winds. I went to check plants and give them water, and several smaller fruits have BER. Talk about plant stress. Since April 1st, we have had only 15 days with lows between 55 and 70, and highs between 70 and 89. Should have at least 40 such days according to averages. So, I'll be happy with what fruit set I have. I am definately not expecting any more fruit set this spring/summer.

Stepheninky · May 31, 2011

my plants did that last year when it was dry (no rain but still humid as heck) and evening temps were unusually high. Last season the first fruit flush was normal to large but as the heat rose and the lack of rain the fruits were plentiful but smaller. The taste though was outstanding so at least there is that. I still canned a lot and also made some home made ketchup that is slap your momma good.

creister · June 1, 2011

If your fruit set is particularly heavy, fruits tend to run smaller. One year, I had a Break O'Day with over 40 fruit on it. Fruits averaged about 6oz. (listed as 8-12 oz.). Some were larger, some smaller. Of course the larger ones were some of the first to set. I would think the unsettled weather doesn't help either.

May 29, 2011	#1
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Smaller fruit this year It became apparent to me that the fruit on my tomatoes this year is noticeably smaller than last year. The plants have grown well and other than some falling to fusarium they are loaded with toms; but overall the fruit on the plants is smaller than it was last year for the same varieties. We have had some very unusual weather to which I am going to attribute this difference. This year we have had very high winds with some very hot days with almost no rainfall this whole spring; but we have also had some of the coolest nights up til a week ago. I first noticed it with Kosovo though the plant was as healthy and big as last year the fruit coming off has been considerably smaller but I must say it is actually better tasting. I now can see this same type of result on other varieties which I also grew last year. I know it is very early in the season but this is the time in which I usually see the very largest fruits on some of these varieties. I guess I got spoiled by all the big tomatoes last year. If this better flavor continues through all the varieties then I will be perfectly happy to deal with somewhat smaller tomatoes. I guess having about and inch of rain in nearly 3 months will help the flavor but it is really hard on my water bill.

May 30, 2011	#2
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	I did have some normal size tomatoes but have also experienced many fruit that are smaller than advertised. Heat, drought and above average winds contributed to it I believe. It is always windy here in Corpus but this year we had weeks of it in a row. No complaints about flavor for most __________________ Duane Jones

May 31, 2011	#5
Stepheninky Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 682	my plants did that last year when it was dry (no rain but still humid as heck) and evening temps were unusually high. Last season the first fruit flush was normal to large but as the heat rose and the lack of rain the fruits were plentiful but smaller. The taste though was outstanding so at least there is that. I still canned a lot and also made some home made ketchup that is slap your momma good. __________________ tomatoprojects.blogspot.com

May 31, 2011	#3
jeffinjonestown Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Jonestown, PA Posts: 91	Smaller FRUIT? Darnit, I need to move southward. I just finished planting out the last of my leftover seedlings.

May 31, 2011	#4
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Bad year for gardens. We had 107 and 109 on Friday and Sat. with high winds. I went to check plants and give them water, and several smaller fruits have BER. Talk about plant stress. Since April 1st, we have had only 15 days with lows between 55 and 70, and highs between 70 and 89. Should have at least 40 such days according to averages. So, I'll be happy with what fruit set I have. I am definately not expecting any more fruit set this spring/summer.

June 1, 2011	#6
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	If your fruit set is particularly heavy, fruits tend to run smaller. One year, I had a Break O'Day with over 40 fruit on it. Fruits averaged about 6oz. (listed as 8-12 oz.). Some were larger, some smaller. Of course the larger ones were some of the first to set. I would think the unsettled weather doesn't help either.