Wishing on a Tomato

[MissyMoo]

Is anyone else wondering when their outdoor tomato plants are going to start flowering? I mean I have a few trusses with flowers...maybe one every second plant and I even have three tomatoes formed but that's it and I have 20 plants!!
Are they just late this year or do I have lazy plants?

[urban-gardener]

Hi, I have only 6 plants but each have about 4-5 trusses on and have all had the tops pinched out now. Lots of little green tomatoes growing on the lower trusses and lots of yellow flowers on the top.

Sorry I can't be more encouraging...

[Shortie]

Hi MissyMoo

I have a few flowers on my plants but onl 2 lone tomates.

That said I seem to remember thinking this last year (which my first year of growing tomatoes). They suddenly put a mass burst on in august and in October I finally decided enough was enough and pulled the still flowerin and fruiting plants up as I was pulling up my butternut at that time

Panic yey not

[sewer rat]

Hi Missymoo
Plenty time yet - are you feeding your plants - I fed mine with Tomorite every second day and it makes a big difference to number of flowers on my toms.

[Peat]

Don't forget we had a lousy spring - one of the coldest for a long time (until we baked in May). As long as you have flowers and the weather doesn't turn cold until October, you'll be fine.

[JimineyC]

I could be mis-remembering but I read somewhere (possibly in the magazine) that spraying the flowers with water makes them open faster. Possibly. I've had a look round all my reference material but can't where it was mentioned.

[Shortie]

JimeneyC, was that open faster or set quicker?

[pickledtink]

So many factors to take into account.
Where you are in the country.
When you sowed or planted.
Soil.
How much Sun.
Water.
Are you feeding them at all? If so, what?

How high are they? Do they look lush with lots of dark green foliage? If so there's nothing wrong and they'll be producing soon.
We all had a late start due to the endless winter this year didn't we after all.
I've only 2 full lots of flowers in bloom on 2 of mine and just one on the other 2 plants but I can see plenty forming up so I think in a week I'll see sets. Axial pinch outs have flung out loads of roots so I'll be planting those too now. Seems like a healthy season for tomatoes although a real late start this year!

[MissyMoo]

Thanks for the moral support guys. The plants themselves look quite healthy and are the size I'd expect them to be....and I'm feeding them twice a week now. Just expected them to have a few more flowers by now but as you all say it's been a cold start to the year.
I'm just impatient I guess. Perhaps I'll step up the feeding program for a bit and see if that helps. They are in grow bags after all.

[rosyb]

A bit of a question...
My tomatoes are flowering which is great after a miserable spring and now I'm wondering if I should be pollinating them like i do my chillis. I've sat out there and the bees seem alot more interested in my sweet peas, which to be honest I would do if I was a bee. Are tomatoes self fertile or should i be getting out there and doing my bit for the vegetable patch?
Rosy B

[Shortie]

Someone else may be better but I think they can be wind pollinated to as long as it has been a bit breezey, they should be fine

Grapes, pleased correct me if I'm wrong

[JimineyC]

For what it's worth I think the water spraying thing was to make the flowers open.

Jim

[GardenFan]

I sowed mine in two stages, 10 in early March and 10 in early April. The early sowing is under glass and has set now and the biggest two is about 4/5" but still green. The later sowing is outside and in flower with a few sets now formed. All in all I am marching through bottles of tom feed at the rate of a bottle a week

[bramble]

Hi Rosyb, if you're unsure about your tomatoes being pollinated just rub the middle of the flowers with a fine feather although i am sure the bees will have pollinated them for you. All my toms are outdoors and have four trusses on them now. A lot of flowers and a lot of very green toms. Need lots of sun.

[DrBill]

I don't know whether it really helps, but I make a point of giving my tomatoes a gentle tap or shake every so often. It's supposed to encourage pollination. Mind you, I only have a few plants. Might get a bit tedious if you have a lot of plants

God Bless
Bill