Where are my tomatoes!

Greetings. I've been growing tomatoes in containers, south facing, for more than twenty years and always enjoyed great success.

This year, healthy plants, squillions of flowers, but only a very few tomatoes setting. I wonder if I'm just impatient (although the few that have set are a fair size now, albeit still small, of course) or, otherwise, what the problem is. I have had to use different multi-purpose this year, but with a few setting and healthy plants, can it be that?

Thanks

Disappointed of Shoreham-by-Sea!

 

Seeing as most people growing Outdoor tomatoes have only just planted them out in the last week, I would guess that you are being a little impatient...?

 

My guess would be impaitence, sorry! I grow outside against a south facing wall and don't usually get fruit until July. I have noticed the hot spring has made a lot of other things early - I had both strawberries and sweetpeas in May - so maybe that's what's making normally-times tomatoes feel late by comparison?!

 

Hi,

Might be down to the weather and lack of pollinating bees and insects.

Have you tried hand pollinating them ?

Often said around midday is the best time, use a very soft makeup brush or simiiar and just go around and 'tickle' the flowers every day and see if that improves things.

 

Ah, will try that and see if it does make a difference.

You may well be right about patience or lack of it, was just that I was surprised a few fruit had set and grown to a recognisable size while no sign on any of the many other flowers.

Thanks all.

I'm always early, by the way. More impatience!

 

Not usually an out door problem but it does sound like poor pollination.

 

I've only just got flowers on mine in the last week or so and have been wondering whether mine are behind the curve. I don't understand how plants that have only just been planted outside can be expected to have fruit already. I think I'm comparing to plants that have been grown in a greenhouse, and that's not helpful as it's such a different environment. Then again mine were in a heated conservatory which is basically the same thing, so maybe it isn't that different?

EDIT: I just looked up when my varieties are supposed to produce fruit, and everything is saying August. So I went back and checked the 2019 tomato thread and I saw people were just getting fruit in August and September. I really think it's just too early for most tomatoes yet and those who do have fruit have tricked the system somehow

 

Mine have been out for weeks, hence the few fruit on them. It's just odd to see a handful the size of what I remember as a gobstopper, perhaps a little smaller, but barely any small green pimples anywhere else. I've just given them a shake, though, so all things are possible!

 

Big plants both inside and out but inside too long, suggesting poor light?, some fruit on outside plants but small as are the one or two inside! Bl**dy white fly! (Tried the wasps couple of years ago but fluctuating temp stopped them, so using pyrethrum again!)
Considering changing variety? Give up altogether, as I don't eat them raw, but could it be shade?

 

Toms need full sun for at least part of the day.
White fly is a usual pest under glass.
Never grow tomatoes under glass these days, you get them earlier but unless you need lots of them just to much hassle.

 

There is a specific tomato growing thread and a few pictures in there might give you a better response.

 

Curiously we've decided to try not having any in heated cons next year (might squeeze some more half hardy salvias in instead!)
Wonder if there is a more shade-loving variety, particularly large fruited Tom?

 

Hello there, well, think I was just impatient, mainly; have a good crop on most now, although the new variety that I was trying haven't done much. Thanks for all contributions.