[Arid_gardener] Dave -- Re: tomatoes

[Genie]

Hi Dave,

Wrote to you eons ago... last Fall.  HAPPY to see that you are OK! 

As for your tomato problem (fruit set) supplement the soil with 
fertilizer high in Phosphates.
That is; the "P"...   in N-P-K fertilizers.  Also, now that you 
apparently have an impressive plant, slow down the Nitrogen.
Too much Nitrogen will thwart blossoms from developing.  (And then, you 
have to scare the plant -- by denying it water
for a day or two.  The plant will "think" it's going to die... and will 
force blossoms to produce offspring.  Plants are clever,
resourceful, and want to live!) 

A good tomato fertilizer should read something similar to this:

8-24-8    (High in Phosphate)

Continue to use the Blossom Set spray early in the morning.  I am not 
familiar with Yuma's evening temps, but keep in mind that
the MINIMUM night temps must be at least 55 degrees continuously for 
fruit to set -- for most varieties of tomatoes.

GOOD LUCK... and please drop a line when you are up to your lower lip... 
in tomatoes!   :-)

Kindest Regards,  Genie

Message: 5
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:56:48 -0500
From: DAVE FLAKER <mf1gold at citlink.net>
Subject: [Arid_gardener] no tomatoe blossoms
To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
Message-ID: <46119840.7050500 at citlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I have finally found a spot on the east side of my house in Lake Havasu 
City to  place my tomato box,  It is nine feet long and five feet tall 
two feet deep.  I wrapped it in 50 percent shade cloth and have an east 
facing door to get into the planting. After the frost my November plants 
all looked like boiled spinach three feet tall.  One plant barely 
survived and now has two fruits.  I planted new vines right after the 
frost ended and they are now three feet high and dark green.  The 
problem now is that no blossoms are appearing and if they don't show up 
before May and get pollinated I will have another season with no fruit.  
Is there a way to stimulate budding? 

In the enclosure no bees can get to them, so I use bud set hormone 
spray.  I haven't seen a bee yet this year.  I heard they are going extinct.



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