Non-Flowering
Tomatoes
Q: I planted
tomato plants (early girls) on May 1,2007 and the green plants are beautiful but there is no flowers on them. Can you help me?
Lenore
A: There are several possible reasons why this would happen. One is that the
tomato
plant is just not mature enough to bloom, or, if it is not in full sun, that it needs more light. Another possibility is that it has been oversupplied with nitogen and is growing an excess of foliage over blooms. Usually, it is just a matter of time. Some varieties begin to bear much sooner than others. As long as the
tomato
plants seem healthy, there isn't too much more you can do.
Tomato Blight
Q: what cause tomato plants to brown up at the bottom of the plant then die?
Thank you
Lois
A: It sounds like Early blight, late blight or septoria leaf spot. All are fungal diseases affecting the leaves and spreading throughout the plant. Mulch the tomatoes well in spring to prevent the soil from splashing on to the leaves. Remove spotted lower leaves as soon as you can, keep the plants healthy and spray the plants with a copper solution early if it seems like it's spreading out of control.
Cherry Tomatoes
Dear Editor,
Last year most of my cherry tomatoes split before
I could pick them. Is there anything I can do to avoid this other then picking them before they are bright red?
Kathy from Massachusetts
Answer: Splitting can be caused by uneven watering. On almost-mature tomatoes the skin has stopped growing but the inside tissues are still absorbing water. Too much water (either rainfall or from the hose) at this point in the growth process can result in splitting. Try cutting back on your watering, applying a thorough soaking to the plant only once a week. You can try growing split-resistant type such as Burpee's 'Delicious' if your weather is such that you can't control the amount of water a plant gets.
Question
Sent in By Donna
Hi, I have a question. I have a patio tomato plant that I have put in a big
pot. I live alone and one plant is all I need. I love to watch them grow and to love the fruit it produces. Now my question is someone told me I needed
two so they will pollinate. Is this true?
Hi Donna,
As rich in history as it
is in flavor, there is
probably no other garden
fruit or vegetable that enjoys
so much preference as the
tomato. Even those
who don't typically enjoy gardening
often find it incredibly
easy to grow tomatoes.
These self fruiting plants
do not need another plant
to bear fruit. The tomato is self-pollinating.
However, it needs insects
or wind to cause
pollination to take place. Since tomatoes
need a little help
pollinating, gently shake
the plant when the flowers are
open and some of the
flowers will self
pollinate this way.
Vegetable
garden under Attack
Question:
Hi-
I am a single 37 year old
male from Howell,
Michigan. I have
been gardening pretty much
all my life. I have the
healthiest garden I have
ever had this year.
My acorn squash are almost
ready to be picked and I
have already received more
cukes and zuccini than
ever before.
Everyone that comes over
is saying that they have
never seen a healthier
garden than mine this
year.
But, here is my sadness. I
came home from work to see
some tomatoes that are
finally turning red.
Some were ready to be
picked. After
picking about 8 I noticed
that on the bottom they
were black and kind of
moldy. I have know
problem with tomatoes
worms (yet) but I haven't
ever seen this before.
It has been unusually hot
and humid this summer. Can
you please help me?
I would love to get on top
of this now. All of
my green
tomatoes are beautiful and
very healthy looking.
I will be a life long fan
of your web site ( which
is awesome) if you can
please help me before I
lose my tomatoes and can't
can my famous salsa.
If you want I'll send you
some!!!
Thank You Soooo Much!!!
Sincerely,
Rich Benson II
Hi Rich
It sounds like you are describing blossom end rot which occurs at the end of the
tomatoes (and
peppers) opposite the stem. While it is attributed to calcium
deficiency in the soil, it often appears in cases of fluctuating soil moisture
levels. Remedies include adding
organic matter to the soil to increase its
moisture holding capacity, keeping the plants evenly moist, using a mulch, and
in some cases spraying plants with a blossom end rot spray (contains calcium)
which can usually be purchased from your local garden center.
Usually, more
attention to keeping the soil evenly moist will solve the problem. You might
want to dig down into the soil a bit and see how effective your
watering actually is.
Good luck with your crops
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