Tomato Growing Thread 2023

After reviewing my photo's - I'm thinking of replacing the thinner middle cane in one of my Beefsteak pots to something more sturdier- maybe put in one of the canes from the outside of the pot and tie the thinner one to the top of 2 tall cane horizontal so I can support some of the trusses "does that make sense"

 

Thank you John - My first fruit ever, and know I am thinking about lettuce, springing onions and shallots, it will have to be something that I can grow in a shallow-ish tray (4-5 inch deep) May be even baby carrots as long as they have short roots

 

Muahahahahah!

 

I promised an update on my toms once I'd planted them out in the growbags on the balcony, well here it is:
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The self-sown one is obviously the tallest one, near the edge of the table.

As I was planting out the last four plants in the bag nearest to the balcony door (on the right) I accidentally snapped one plant off, almost at soil level! Nevertheless I planted it in the very last space, alongside the door. The broken off plant I reduced by half & removed the growing tip then planted it as a cutting alongside its rootball! Whether one or the other will grow, both of them or neither of them only time will tell! It is also the very first time in the 22 years I've been growing toms on the balcony that I have done this! It's also the very first time ever I've tried to take a tomato cutting! I'll keep you all informed of their progress - one way or the other!
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@Grandma Sue for an absolute beginner you are doing very well! Congratulations! With the experience you are gaining from this year, next year you will surely do a lot better!

 

Going back to my 1970s horticultural labourer days, we used to run down between the rows of tomatoes, a tomato cane in each hand, dragging the end of the stick along the support strings, thus giving each plant a little shake to help pollinate the flowers.

(Is this where I start telling you that it was all trees around here?)

 

Apart from last year, when I think it was probably a heat problem, can't really remember having trouble with fruit not setting.

 

Thank you Balc, It will be larger air pots for next year 30L

 

I'm getting almost 100% fruit set in my cherry types, but much lower (50% or less) in my bigger/chunkier types.

 

I think sometimes the big ones just abort flowers once a few are set on a truss.

 

This is an old video, but I though it gave a good insight in using an electric toothbrush for pollinating tomato plants:

Triple Your Tomato Production With An Electric Toothbrush -YouTube (The Millennial Gardener)

 

Making your tomato plants vibrate is something I've been doing for "donkey's years" now! Practically every time I go out onto the balcony when there are tomatoes flowering I agitate the strings or give the flower trusses a little knock.