2013 Tomato Growing

My weather station recordings:

 

Blimey, they've forecast a low of 3c tonight, in the countryside

 

I actually heard a chance of 'grass frost' somewhere in Scotland

 

Shouldn't use the 'F' word Loli

 

Cough, a bit too much personal information there, sorry about your injury, and get well soon :-)

Jack McH

 

Looks like I didn't word that very well either

 

Hello folks.

I noticed today a couple of my outdoor toms have gone blind. I was just about to take out the adjacent side-shoots when I noticed it. I shall therefore allow said side-shoots to develop. It's worth checking your 'leaders' folks

 

Hello folks.

Nothing much to report. My greenhouse toms are moving along, and will soon be up to the roof, so I'll be 'stopping' those soon. My outdoor ones are doing ok, especially the Gardeners Delight. One thing I DO notice, and I've noticed it in previous years, I have quite a few 'dry sets', does anyone have any advice regarding this? For the time being, I'll start going round and pollinate by hand.

Cheers...Freddy

 

It's where the flowers form but then dry up and drop off before a fruit is formed....

 

Aaaah, I have lots of these on the outdoor Maskotkas. Too cold and windy for insects' pollinating visits I think..

 

Spray/mist them (helps the Pollen "stick" I believe)

Pollinate them ... I "drum" my fingers on the main stem as I walk past just to create a vibration up the plant which helps shed the pollen.

 

Or you can use an electric toothbrush to 'buzz pollinate' them.



That might sound like a lot of hassle just to get a tomato to set, but if you're growing a whole plant just to get one really big tomato from it then it's really worth the extra effort.

 

I "tap" my plants every morning and evening, doesn't work on every flower but I think I'll have enough fruit to see me through, judging by the success rate so far.