[Arid_gardener] Dave -- Re: tomatoes

[Dick Gross]

Good information, Genie. I would add, however, that tomato pollen is dead at about 100F. The bush will bloom like gang busters but if no pollenation occurs, the petals and imature fruit just falls off. Nurseries sell a light paper material called Remay that is light enough to lay on the foliage without damaging it. A brisk breeze will blow it into the next county so it is wise to try to anchor or tie it on in some way. Leave lots of opening space for bees to enter and exit but be on the alert for horm worms that seem to love the shelter when feeding. 

Tomatoes must have light but the Remay apparently lets enough through while reflecting some of the heat that kills pollen. You won't get 100% but when it is 110, every living thing is feeble.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Genie 
  To: mf1gold at citlink.net ; arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 4:17 PM
  Subject: [Arid_gardener] Dave -- Re: tomatoes



  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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