Serious lack of tomatoes.

**Potstubsdustbins** · 27-06-2013, 09:01 PM

The weather has not been conducive to growing toms this year mine are well behind normal, I picked my first tumbler yesterday.

If your are growing cordon tom's I would suggest you gently rattle the support cane every time you pass but at least once a day. This will free up the pollen around the plant and as tom's are self pollinators will help with fruit set.

Potty

**Canny Grower** · 27-06-2013, 09:19 PM

My greenhouse plants are just flowering but today I noticed small tomatoes on some of the outdoor Red Alerts.

Perhaps your flowers are not being pollinated - there aren't so many bees about after the disastrous summer last year. Have you tried hand pollinating?

**solway cropper** · 27-06-2013, 10:02 PM

Normally tomatoes have no trouble setting fruit but because this year has been so cold I've been hand pollinating mine and have plenty of fruit. The first ones are just starting to ripen and should be ready next week. To some extent it also depends on variety and some do seem to need a little help.

**kathyd** · 28-06-2013, 06:57 AM

My Sungold are producing small but ripe fruits now, but the other varieties are much slower. I have a few green ones which have been hanging around for ages, but I think they're missing the sun - I know how they feel! I understand that tomatoes don't need insects to pollinate them, because the male and female bits are both inside the same flower on the plant, but as Posttubsdustbins says above, you may need to shake the stems gently from time to time to make sure the pollen moves around, especially if they're inside and out of any wind. Everything in my garden and polytunnel is on a go-slow this year, I'm try hard not to panic - there's time yet for things to catch up

.

**rustylady** · 28-06-2013, 07:14 AM

What the others said about tapping the canes or flowers. Also make sure the compost is moist enough (but not waterlogged) - they won't set fruit if it's too dry.

**little old lady** · 28-06-2013, 07:35 AM

I've not even bothered with the cane tapping this year, my plants are loaded. I wonder if timing has anything to do with it? I started really early, maybe my flowers opened just at a good time for pollination - all my plants are either in the greenhouse or conservatory, and I've got ripe fruit on Ailsa Craig, Gardener's Delight and Pannovy - the San Marzano and Roma have set a load but not ripened yet. If I was sure what has worked I'd bottle it - doesn't happen every year!

**horticultural_hobbit** · 28-06-2013, 08:30 AM

I have floo'ers. On Aunty VVG's Ukranian purple that is on the plot. My own babies, are tiny, green and not even up to my knees yet.

**Tripmeup** · 28-06-2013, 08:47 AM

I have lots of fruit, but all green and seeming intent on staying that way for the mo...

**chilli_grower** · 28-06-2013, 09:33 AM

sowed most of mine on 24th Feb, all red alerts. They are all loaded with fruit. Most of them turning orange now...

**marchogaeth** · 28-06-2013, 05:54 PM

I mist my first trusses to avoid dry set - got this from Joyce Russell poly tunnel book.

**Likac66** · 28-06-2013, 06:06 PM

So how do I hand pollinate? Is that different from just tapping the canes and stems or do I need to do something different?

**ado** · 28-06-2013, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by Likac66 View Post

So how do I hand pollinate? Is that different from just tapping the canes and stems or do I need to do something different?

Turn the lights down low, play some romantic music and cook a lovely meal :-)

**rustylady** · 28-06-2013, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by Likac66 View Post

So how do I hand pollinate? Is that different from just tapping the canes and stems or do I need to do something different?

Tapping the canes or flowers is fine. It releases the pollen. If you look closely you will see a little cloud of it floating down.

**Two_Sheds** · 28-06-2013, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by little old lady View Post

I've not even bothered with the cane tapping this year, my plants are loaded.

I never tap canes, I don't shake the plants. They just get on with it (the gh has the door closed all day too, it's very rare that a bee gets in there

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Serious lack of tomatoes.

Serious lack of tomatoes.

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