[Arid_gardener] Deb Owen's tomatoes

[Genie]

Hi Deb,

Not too worry... this is easy.  The good news: the plants are huge, 
leafy, and green means that they have plenty of Nitrogen
fertilizing them.  The bad news:  too much Nitrogen reduces blossom and 
fruit formation.  Give them a shock by omitting
water for a day or two, but DON'T dry them out -- or they will die in 
our searing heat. You simply want to frighten them a bit,
so nature takes over!  (If a tomato plant was a person... their sole 
focus in life would be to reproduce, then die.)
Frightening the plants by denial of water, triggers blossoms so the 
plant can fulfill Mother Nature's survival plan.

Failing this, purchase micronutrients ("Ironite") and a bottle of 
"Blossom Set" which is kinetin... a hormone that makes many
plants feel sexy.   :-)  Gently scratch the micronutrients into the soil 
before watering.  Shake the bottle of Blossom Set and
spray young leaves toward the bottom and middle of your plants (you want 
any new tomato babies to be protected from
sun scald).  Every morning check for blossoms.  When they appear, give 
them another gentle squirt of Blossom Set.
These products work when all else fails, Deb.  For fertilizers geared 
for tomatoes, look for 8-24-8 (high in phosphate).

Good Luck... and PLEASE share your tomato success story, including which 
varieties you are growing!

Kindest Regards,  Genie -- in Tucson      

>Message: 5
>Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 08:40:11 -0700
>From: Deborah Owens <deborahowens at cox.net>
>Subject: [Arid_gardener] Tomato Plants
>To: arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu
>Message-ID: <1742D2DA-39BB-4169-9C5D-B28D1F5BCEC3 at cox.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
>I have gorgeous tomato plants planted in a raised bed with mulch.   
>They're enormous, leafy, dark green, etc.  However, there are very  
>few blossoms and even fewer actual tomatoes.  Any ideas to help with  
>fruit production?
>
>Thank you!
>
>~Deborah Owens
>    Mesa, AZ  85208
>
>
>  
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://CALS.arizona.edu/pipermail/arid_gardener/attachments/20060509/c2c0f320/attachment.html