[Arid_gardener] Re: Deb Owen's tomatoes

[Deborah Owens]

Genie,

Thanks so much for this note.  I took them off water for two days,  
got the ironite down (I had to whack my way through the jungle to  
find the ground) and watered in.  This morning I went ahead and shot  
them with blossom set.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  It probably  
should've occurred to me sooner that something was off, but I was so  
amazed at how big they were getting I got distracted.  It took my 7  
year old asking where the tomatoes grew to make me go, "Heck yeah--  
where DO the tomatoes grow?"

Up to now I haven't fertilized them at all.  Added nothing.  Yes, I'm  
a confessed lazy gardener.  I'll try harder.

Loved your description of kinetin-- anything that'll make my tomatoes  
feel sexy is my friend!  Wonder if it works on humans...

Thanks again.

~Deb  Owens
   Mesa, AZ


On May 9, 2006, at 8:49 AM, Genie wrote:

> 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
>>
>>
>>

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