[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

Peggy, a plant has to percieve a need to reproduce but those you describe as 
fat and sassy may not.  Or your plants may not be polinated perhaps because 
of a dearth of bees.  I used to pluck the petals to assure that pollination 
occurs. To do that, grasp the bloom gently at the base with thumb and 
forefinger of one hand and pull the petals free with the other leaving the 
button and stomata intact. This agitation apparently distributes pollen when 
there are no bees to do that for you.  Most of the insecticides will kill 
bees as well I've been told.

You might also hold off on water until you detect a slight wilt then water 
deeply.

All home "horticulturists" grow tomatos. Any other thoughts out there.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer.
U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <peggyalexander at qwest.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 9:06 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Peggy
> 85266
> peggyalexander at qwest.net
>
> It looks like I "over nitrogenized" my tomato plants.  I have tall, 
> beautiful tomato plants with very few flowers.  Is it too late to correct 
> this and if not, what should I do?  I planted them all with banana skins, 
> heavily composted the soil around the transplants, then put more compost 
> on top of the base of each plant.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
> All contents copyright 2007. Arizona Board of Regents/University of 
> Arizona
>