What is wrong with my tomatos

[nicoleg906]

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.

[johnny123]

Probably not pollinated.
Get some honey bees.

[johnny123]

Plant flowers in or near the garden to attract bees.

[TZ -OH6]

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.

[rainbowgardener]

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.

[johnny123]

At times the pollen does not get airnborne {Sticky}
Bee help in these times.

[johnny123]

Usually the pollen will become easily airborne, but if your getting alot of rain or have high humidity the pollen becomes too sticky and it becomes too difficult to release.

Thus the wind cannot carry the pollen successfully during this time.

Just one of many causes of blossom drop.

[nicoleg906]

Thanks for the replies. I was given the last of my MIL's flowers, which I will container plant on my deck tomorrow. The weather has finally picked up in the last two weeks, 3-4 days of sunshine then an overnight with rain. I have been plucking the suckers as they are growing.

[halfmoon26]

I think your plants have too much nitrogen. They look too healthy they need a bit of stress, you can add little phosphorus (but eazy on the plants)

[Gary350]

Plants roots like it cool. Flower pots make the roots the same temperature as the plant. Flower pots confine the roots.

Dig a hole and set the pots in the holes fill in around the pots with soil. This will lower the temerature of the roots.

Bees will find your plants no matter where the plants are.