Budding Tomato Plants

[Silverfox]

I am a little worried, I sowed my first tomato plants on 20.02.07, and since they have germinated they have been potted on and then kept outside in one of those plastic frame greenhouses. No special treatment to them and just general compost. They have now reached about 7/8 inches high and a week ago I noticed that nearly half of them had buds on them like they were going to burst into flower at any moment.

The weather has been very hot in Luton (around 20 each day with highs of 26), and I think this is the cause. But my worries not are that the plants are not fully developed to be producing fruit, and think this will cause them a problem later on in the season.

The verities are: Mortgage Lifter, Pink Brandywine, Roma, Patio Orange, Tumbling Red, Gardeners Delight, Alicante)

[Cutecumber]

Mine are coming along pretty quickly, too - I don't think you should worry.

If past years are anything to go by, it takes a long time for them to come into flower fully, and not all of the truss will come at once, anyway. When the first flowers are open, it's a good time to plant them.

Remember that pollen doesn't like very hot conditions, or very cold - that's what is going to be important in getting fruit to set. Otherwise, I wouldn't fret as I think you'll be surprised at how quickly the plants will grow and beef up from now on.

[pigletwillie]

Your tomatoes will form trusses of fruit as they grow Silverfox. By the time the cordon varieties are between 4-6' high they should have 4 or 5 trussess either in flower or set as fruit. It is perfectly normal what they are doing.

[bramble]

Some of my tomatoes and peppers have buds on them. I expect it is because I planted them very early this year, so hope to get an extra large crop.

[Mrs Dobby]

We've 12 tomato plants with flowers on now, 1 actual tomato at about 1/2" on one of the tomatoes in a hanging basket, and flower buds on 3 of our Naga Jolokia chilli plants!

Tho it does seem early, I'd not be too worried about your toms Silverfox!

[rustylady]

You need to get them planted into their final quarters now that they've got flowers, that way the plants will be able to grow to full size. That's OK if they are going into a greenhouse, but I wouldn't plant them outside without protection just yet. Could you use cloches?