Fw: [Arid_gardener] Dave -- Re: tomatoes

[Dick Gross]

Bcc: VOSG, Arid Gardener----- Original Message ----- 


From: Dick Gross 
To: Dick Gross ; Genie 
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 2:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Dave -- Re: tomatoes

Genie, my trigger finger got a little itchy and this message went out prematurely. At 81, a lot of my functions have an early conclusion but I hate to end a conversation in the middle of a sentence. The focus I intended to pursue is the following method of attaining pollination in tomato blossoms, if I can explain it properly. It was shown to me by an elderly San Diego wino whose horticultural wisdom I have practiced for years.

I have grown mostly a Big Beef variety but the method would work for any.

Grasp the open blossom at its base, firmly but softly, so as not to bruise, with the thumb and forefinger of one hand. Grasp the center yellow protuberance with the other and pull gently. The entire blossom will separate and polen will be dusted where it is needed. Having only five surviving fingers, I grasp the center portion with my teeth to accomplish the same thing; an oral version, if you will.. The immature fruit left behind will develop if fertilization has occured or fall off if not. The residual grin that follows is my reaction when someone asks me just what the hell I'm doing.

Genie, it appears that you are successfully through your own ordeal as well. Thanks for your response.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.

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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dick Gross 
  To: Genie ; mf1gold at citlink.net ; arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 8:14 PM
  Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Dave -- Re: tomatoes


  Good information, Genie. I would add, however, that tomato pollen croaks 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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