Please tell me i am not the only one that does this...

[Bountyhunter]

When i have nothing to do i pull off the yellow flowers on the tomato plants so that the toms have more sunlight.

My theory is that the longer the flower stays on the plant it is protecting the baby tom from sunlight and therefore slowing the fruit growth down. The flowers come off easily but if left they can stay attached for a week or more until it drops on its own. I find it very hard to stop once i have started, its almost therapeutic lol

Anyone else do this or something equally daft? I dont tell my friends by the way

Sara

[ddiogyn]

Ohhh... does it work? I've been shading my trusses of emerging fruit as i read somewhere that too much direct sun causes greenback?

[Nicos]

Not me!!!!
..interesting theory though!!!

[Bountyhunter]

Ohhh... does it work? I've been shading my trusses of emerging fruit as i read somewhere that too much direct sun causes greenback?

I dont know if it does work but in theory it does. I have mine in the carport where it is very hot(unbearably) and sunny and i have never had any problems with the toms.
I should have left one plant to its own devices and see what happens but knowing me i wouldnt be able to leave it alone. lol

Nicos, i just know you are going to do it now

[Nicos]

Nicos, i just know you are going to do it now

D'oh...am I THAT transparent????

[El Greeno]

Yeah I've been out the garden doing this before.
My wife tells me off and says to leave them alone but it is very addictive!!!

[Bountyhunter]

D'oh...am I THAT transparent????

Ha ha, good guess then lol.

Get a chair, glass of wine and before you know it you will be so engrossed you will miss Emmerdale and Corrie

[Bountyhunter]

Yeah I've been out the garden doing this before.
My wife tells me off and says to leave them alone but it is very addictive!!!

Fanbladdytastic!!! I didnt expect a bloke would do it, i thought it was just us women that did stuff like that.

Do you do it for the reason i do or just cos you do?

Its like biting your nails, you cant stop! But i would like to find that it benefits the toms then i can tell everyone to leave me alone.

[Brengirl]

if it's good for you and therapeutic I will certainly give it a go.

[Bountyhunter]

if it's good for you and therapeutic I will certainly give it a go.

Way to go! ha ha.

Its also a good way to lose weight as you forget to eat! Mine are in the carport so this time of day its lovely in there, in fact i think its drink o clock in the carport.

I could start a new thing off here.

[Nicos]

Get a chair, glass of wine and before you know it you will be so engrossed you will miss Emmerdale and Corrie

I do anyway!!!

[Caro]

Me too, guilty as charged. I never thought about sunlight (this is bloomin' wet and horrible scotland after all ) but I always felt the hoop made by the base of the flower may "dent" the baby tom.

[Bountyhunter]

I do anyway!!!

What, drink wine or miss the telly? probably both lol

Me too, guilty as charged. I never thought about sunlight (this is bloomin' wet and horrible scotland after all ) but I always felt the hoop made by the base of the flower may "dent" the baby tom.

See, all this time you may have been helping your toms!

We are just as mad here lol

[Tomatoking]

Ohhh... does it work? I've been shading my trusses of emerging fruit as i read somewhere that too much direct sun causes greenback?

I have my white flag here, please don't shoot me, but you are on the right track ddiogyn.
The tomatoes develop from light on the 'leaves' and nutrients from the roots. So, the better spacing of your plants in good sunlight is the way to get the best fruit. Too much sun on the fruit will cause it to ripen too early and can cause blotchy coloured fruit.

But I am sure it will do you more good Bounty, so forget what I have just said.

[Bountyhunter]

I have my white flag here, please don't shoot me, but you are on the right track ddiogyn.
The tomatoes develop from light on the 'leaves' and nutrients from the roots. So, the better spacing of your plants in good sunlight is the way to get the best fruit. Too much sun on the fruit will cause it to ripen too early and can cause blotchy coloured fruit.

But I am sure it will do you more good Bounty, so forget what I have just said.

Women always know what they are doing

I havnt had blotchy fruit yet so until then i will carry on till i do. Anyway, who cares what they look like when they are free.

I thought the more light the better. I did worry last year that the carport was too hot but everything grew so well, it was just me that couldnt handle the heat.

I havnt got any red toms yet but i will look when they ripen to see if you are right, though i doubt i would admit it if you was lol