This is my third year vegetable gardening. We have had really odd weather this year. Unusually cool and rainy. My tomatoes have a ton of foliage and blossoms (which are not falling off) but very few green tomatoes. I usually have a lot of ripening going on now.
also, my spacing is bad, but that is the same every year I am too ambitious...
Any thoughts?
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fabulousmindy
- Full Member
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:44 am
- Location: Columbus, OH *Go Bucks*
Hi Mindy,
I am no expert by any means but I have been posting to this forum obsessively, as this is my first year gardening. I have learned that failure of leaves to pollinate themselves may be the resut of cold(ed) weather - although you may not be below the threshold temperature. Perhaps this is a cause. Other things I have heard - lack of bees to pollinate. I thought I had the same problem a while ago, as we had a very cold spring, so I began to self-pollinate by using a q-tip going from flower to flower and just rubbing the q-tip around inside the flowers. I now have a ton of tomatoes growing!
Also, my three plants are relatively close (approx 18-20 inches apat) which, if I had to do it again, I would have expanded the distance (I am using a planter though, so limited room). Point is: I have not had a problem with flowers developing into fruit based on the spacing, though.
Hope that is of SOME help. If not, I am sure someone else will give you more expert advice.
Tom
I am no expert by any means but I have been posting to this forum obsessively, as this is my first year gardening. I have learned that failure of leaves to pollinate themselves may be the resut of cold(ed) weather - although you may not be below the threshold temperature. Perhaps this is a cause. Other things I have heard - lack of bees to pollinate. I thought I had the same problem a while ago, as we had a very cold spring, so I began to self-pollinate by using a q-tip going from flower to flower and just rubbing the q-tip around inside the flowers. I now have a ton of tomatoes growing!
Also, my three plants are relatively close (approx 18-20 inches apat) which, if I had to do it again, I would have expanded the distance (I am using a planter though, so limited room). Point is: I have not had a problem with flowers developing into fruit based on the spacing, though.
Hope that is of SOME help. If not, I am sure someone else will give you more expert advice.
Tom
A few people here use power toothbrushes to stimulate pollination. I personally use a Tide Spin brush designed to get stains out of clothes. I apply the back of the brush (not the bristles) on the stem of the flower cluster and vibrate it for a second or two. I have a lot of green tomatoes growing now. It works for peppers, too. Theory is, it makes vibrations that mimic the buzzing of bees and stimulates the flower to release its pollen.
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fabulousmindy
- Full Member
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:44 am
- Location: Columbus, OH *Go Bucks*
Fab Mindy: "Go Bucks!" ha, ha. We may be in Ohio, but folks in these parts are severely divided between the Buckeyes and Wolverines (we're on the border with MI, obviously.) We even have a few locations of a store: The Buckeye/Wolverine Shop. I'm an Ohio girl, but my DH is a relocated Michagander. Makes for interesting conversation, if nothing else!
Good luck with your tomatoes!
Good luck with your tomatoes!