The first is a Brandywine, the second two are Early Girls. On the Brandywine two flower buds have dried up and fallen off the vine. What do I need to do to get some tomatos growing?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/34483334@N08/5848743523/in/photostream
https://www.flickr.com/photos/34483334@N08/5848747897/in/photostream
https://www.flickr.com/photos/34483334@N08/5849309752/in/photostream
Sorry, I don't know how to load up pictures into my post. I think I need a different place than Flickr.
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I would say that you are in good shape for Michigan. Much better growth and flowering than I have down here, and mine are pretty much on schedule. The tomatoes will start showing up pretty soon. You can give the plants a shake betwen 9 am and 1 pm to help pollination. Most pollination is from tiny sweat bees, honey bees don't like tomato plants that much because the flowers don't have nectar.
For your Brandywine I would prune off most of the sucker branches (those that are thin and have few flowers) because pretty soon the plant is going to outgrow the container and put water stress on the developing fruit. Personally I would go with just the main stems (commonly a split double vine for Brandywine). You might also want to tie it off closer to the stake to better support the vine weight or it will slump when it gets heavy fruit on it.
For your Brandywine I would prune off most of the sucker branches (those that are thin and have few flowers) because pretty soon the plant is going to outgrow the container and put water stress on the developing fruit. Personally I would go with just the main stems (commonly a split double vine for Brandywine). You might also want to tie it off closer to the stake to better support the vine weight or it will slump when it gets heavy fruit on it.
- rainbowgardener
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Tomatoes are self-pollinating, don't need bees, just the occasional breeze or shake TZ mentioned.
I agree, that your plants are looking quite healthy. What kind of temperatures are you having lately? Heat stress can sometimes cause blossom drop.
Are they getting enough sun? My tomatoes aren't setting much fruit this year (so far anyway). They got off to a slow start with a chilly, wet spring. And now they just aren't getting enough sun. What used to be my sunny patio ten years ago when we bought this place is sort of disappearing as all the trees around it get bigger. I took down one tree last year, but if I still want to grow tomatoes and peppers there, I need to do a few more.
I agree, that your plants are looking quite healthy. What kind of temperatures are you having lately? Heat stress can sometimes cause blossom drop.
Are they getting enough sun? My tomatoes aren't setting much fruit this year (so far anyway). They got off to a slow start with a chilly, wet spring. And now they just aren't getting enough sun. What used to be my sunny patio ten years ago when we bought this place is sort of disappearing as all the trees around it get bigger. I took down one tree last year, but if I still want to grow tomatoes and peppers there, I need to do a few more.
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