Tomato Production

cjbrewer5 · May 31, 2011

I have 36 tomato plants and they are very big and very green plants. I put them into the garden on April 2nd which is after my last frost. They have gotten huge but the problem is they are very big plants and most of them are not producing fruits. Most of the plants have alot of blossoms but then they fall off. What can I do to help them produce more tomatos? Any help would be appreciated.

Charles

organichris · May 31, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjbrewer5

I have 36 tomato plants and they are very big and very green plants. I put them into the garden on April 2nd which is after my last frost. They have gotten huge but the problem is they are very big plants and most of them are not producing fruits. Most of the plants have alot of blossoms but then they fall off. What can I do to help them produce more tomatos? Any help would be appreciated.

Charles

I feel ya, Charles. I have been having the same problem, which I mostly attribute to cool nights. Same thing has been happening to my Father-in-Law, though he has more fruit set than I. However, most of the ones producing are Early Girl, which is nasty.

Thankfully the weather is changing here. Its getting warmer and my plants are exploding. I expect to have some serious fruit set within a week. Hopefully, fortune will come your way also.

You can try to increase pollination by using an electric toothbrush, but if the blossoms are dropping due to an environmental stress, it won't do any good.

Stepheninky · May 31, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjbrewer5

I have 36 tomato plants and they are very big and very green plants. I put them into the garden on April 2nd which is after my last frost. They have gotten huge but the problem is they are very big plants and most of them are not producing fruits. Most of the plants have alot of blossoms but then they fall off. What can I do to help them produce more tomatos? Any help would be appreciated.

Charles

If you can post a region of Texas you are in I am sure some of our Texas growers would be able to better help you out.

cjbrewer5 · May 31, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stepheninky

If you can post a region of Texas you are in I am sure some of our Texas growers would be able to better help you out.

I'm in the dead center of Texas. Weather has been hot lately but all my friends that are growing tomatos are doing fine. The plants are good and green and really lush growth. Just can't seem to hold on to the blooms. They open up and then fall off. Hopefully someone can help me.

Charles

rnewste · June 1, 2011

Charles,

I am experiencing EXACTLY the same issue here in San Jose. Lush green vines with tons of blossoms, but little fruitset. I attribute this to 3 possibilities:

1). I used a high Nitrogen fertilizer (19-6-12) to try to replicate the "Foliage-Pro Experience" others rave of. I suspect this shot of Nitrogen is too much and the plant is out of balance. Next Season, I will use a more balanced 14-14-14 CRF.

2). Climate. Terribly cool and wet here all Spring (high temp here was 62 today, and low 60's forecast all this week. Normally, we are in the 80's to 90's here this time of year. Corresponding nightime temps are also lower by several degrees.

3). And somewhat related to #2 - - we have NO Bees! I sat in the garden for 3 hours yesterday and saw a grand total of ONE Bee in the tomato plants. That was it! So, I have been shaking the tomato cages now for the past few days, and will continue to do so until the Bees show up. It is not only the Bees AWOL. We typically have 10 Hummingbirds visit the feeder during the day. Yesterday, I saw only one make a visit.

So hopefully, the plant cycle will recover and we will (both) have a bountiful crop - but likely delayed this Season.

Raybo

Stepheninky · June 1, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

Charles,

I am experiencing EXACTLY the same issue here in San Jose. Lush green vines with tons of blossoms, but little fruitset. I attribute this to 3 possibilities:

1). I used a high Nitrogen fertilizer (19-6-12) to try to replicate the "Foliage-Pro Experience" others rave of. I suspect this shot of Nitrogen is too much and the plant is out of balance. Next Season, I will use a more balanced 14-14-14 CRF.

2). Climate. Terribly cool and wet here all Spring (high temp here was 62 today, and low 60's forecast all this week. Normally, we are in the 80's to 90's here this time of year. Corresponding nightime temps are also lower by several degrees.

3). And somewhat related to #2 - - we have NO Bees! I sat in the garden for 3 hours yesterday and saw a grand total of ONE Bee in the tomato plants. That was it! So, I have been shaking the tomato cages now for the past few days, and will continue to do so until the Bees show up. It is not only the Bees AWOL. We typically have 10 Hummingbirds visit the feeder during the day. Yesterday, I saw only one make a visit.

So hopefully, the plant cycle will recover and we will (both) have a bountiful crop - but likely delayed this Season.

Raybo

I think Raybo is on the money about the Nitrogen and possibly the pollination.

You can try shaking the plants or use a electric toothbrush or the battery powered razors you shave with can work too.

As far as the high nitrogen, if you can find a fert that is low N but has the higher P and K that might help getting them blooming. Personally I use Molasses but I really do not want to be known as the molasses guy LOL. Seems tgo be an answer I post a lot lately its just cause it is what seems to work best for me.

creister · June 1, 2011

Charles,

I assume you are somewhere around Brownwood? From what I have observed this season is the weather has been down right tomato unfriendly. The fruit set I got was mainly early in the spring. I planted out on the 19th of March. We have had only about 15 days of what I call prime tomato setting temps. Most of those days were spread around the other days of too cold or too hot. I shake my plants in the morning and in the evening. High N could be your problem, but I would blame the hot, windy, and dry to the extreme spring.

cjbrewer5 · June 1, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by creister

Charles,

I assume you are somewhere around Brownwood? From what I have observed this season is the weather has been down right tomato unfriendly. The fruit set I got was mainly early in the spring. I planted out on the 19th of March. We have had only about 15 days of what I call prime tomato setting temps. Most of those days were spread around the other days of too cold or too hot. I shake my plants in the morning and in the evening. High N could be your problem, but I would blame the hot, windy, and dry to the extreme spring.

Yes I'm in Brownwood. Thanks for all the replies and I am going to try the shaking the plant method. That's about all I can do. Happy growing everyone.

Charles

les matzek · June 1, 2011

hi charles

my plants have a lot of blossems no
blossem drop, quite a bit of fruit but
some of the flowers dont set fruit i
think it is because of the night temps
being in the low 50's ??.

i shake my plants 2 to 3 times a day
(not with kid gloves on either) good
luck,regards.

les

b54red · June 1, 2011

I have found that heavy watering during the time when the plant is putting on a lot of blooms will help in the fruit set during times of stress, like high winds and dry weather. I was having problems due to hot days and cold nights with very high winds causing a lot of blossom drop. I increased the frequency and amount of watering and they all started setting almost immediately even though the high winds kept blowing.

Timbotide · June 1, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

I have found that heavy watering during the time when the plant is putting on a lot of blooms will help in the fruit set during times of stress, like high winds and dry weather. I was having problems due to hot days and cold nights with very high winds causing a lot of blossom drop. I increased the frequency and amount of watering and they all started setting almost immediately even though the high winds kept blowing.

I have several plants that are blooming like crazy but not
Setting any fruit. Looks like the heavy watering technique
Is starting to help some of my plants set some fruit.
Bill,
One of my Indian Stripe plants has a mega bloom that
Finally set what looks to be a potentially large tomato.

Tim

May 31, 2011	#1
cjbrewer5 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Brownwood, TX. Posts: 6	Tomato Production I have 36 tomato plants and they are very big and very green plants. I put them into the garden on April 2nd which is after my last frost. They have gotten huge but the problem is they are very big plants and most of them are not producing fruits. Most of the plants have alot of blossoms but then they fall off. What can I do to help them produce more tomatos? Any help would be appreciated. Charles

June 1, 2011	#5
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Charles, I am experiencing EXACTLY the same issue here in San Jose. Lush green vines with tons of blossoms, but little fruitset. I attribute this to 3 possibilities: 1). I used a high Nitrogen fertilizer (19-6-12) to try to replicate the "Foliage-Pro Experience" others rave of. I suspect this shot of Nitrogen is too much and the plant is out of balance. Next Season, I will use a more balanced 14-14-14 CRF. 2). Climate. Terribly cool and wet here all Spring (high temp here was 62 today, and low 60's forecast all this week. Normally, we are in the 80's to 90's here this time of year. Corresponding nightime temps are also lower by several degrees. 3). And somewhat related to #2 - - we have NO Bees! I sat in the garden for 3 hours yesterday and saw a grand total of ONE Bee in the tomato plants. That was it! So, I have been shaking the tomato cages now for the past few days, and will continue to do so until the Bees show up. It is not only the Bees AWOL. We typically have 10 Hummingbirds visit the feeder during the day. Yesterday, I saw only one make a visit. So hopefully, the plant cycle will recover and we will (both) have a bountiful crop - but likely delayed this Season. Raybo

June 1, 2011	#7
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Charles, I assume you are somewhere around Brownwood? From what I have observed this season is the weather has been down right tomato unfriendly. The fruit set I got was mainly early in the spring. I planted out on the 19th of March. We have had only about 15 days of what I call prime tomato setting temps. Most of those days were spread around the other days of too cold or too hot. I shake my plants in the morning and in the evening. High N could be your problem, but I would blame the hot, windy, and dry to the extreme spring.

June 1, 2011	#9
les matzek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Landers, CA Posts: 191	hi charles my plants have a lot of blossems no blossem drop, quite a bit of fruit but some of the flowers dont set fruit i think it is because of the night temps being in the low 50's ??. i shake my plants 2 to 3 times a day (not with kid gloves on either) good luck,regards. les

June 1, 2011	#10
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I have found that heavy watering during the time when the plant is putting on a lot of blooms will help in the fruit set during times of stress, like high winds and dry weather. I was having problems due to hot days and cold nights with very high winds causing a lot of blossom drop. I increased the frequency and amount of watering and they all started setting almost immediately even though the high winds kept blowing.