GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Big healthy looking tomato plants but no fruit!

25-06-2006, 06:10 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible

wrote:
1. The only thing I've been using in the way of fertilizer is Miracle
Grow Tomato food, once a week, mixed per the directions on the box.

Okay...the only thing I can see is that you might be over-fertilizing
them. Too much nitrogen in particular can cause blossom drop. Cut back
on the feedings to once every two weeks (even two and half or three weeks).

2. Soil...........Well first I planted them in Miracle Grow Garden
Soil, then I read on the back about a week later not ot use with pots!
I thought I could get away with it but I replanted a few weeks later in
Miracle Grow Potting Soil to be on the safe side.

This is the other possibility. Blossom drop can be caused by any
stressor. The potting soil is the stuff for containers cause the regular
stuff would be too compact. It's possible that they were affected by the
transplantation. If this is the case, subsequent flowering should be okay.

Another thought too...with the weekly fertilization and the (rich)
Miracle Gro potting soil...it could simply be too much of a good thing.
Cutting back on the feeding is definitely a necessity.

..

Zone 5a in Canada's Far East.

3. They are outside and they get sun almost all day long

4. It has been pretty hot and dry here in st. louis 90+. At night
probably only drops to 80 degrees.

5.See 4

6. See 4

7. I've been flicking the blossoms to encourage pollination

8. No insect damage that I can see

9. I haven't removed any part of the plant, even suckers.

All this said, my mom is growing tomatoes just fine in pots at her
house, which is also in St. louis.

Thanks!

Blossom Drop! (Cool name for a irritating problem

The problem is usually a result of some sort of stress.

What kind of fertilizer have you been using and how often?

What kind of soil do you have in the pots?

Are they outdoors?

Have there been temperature extremes between night and day?

Has the night temps gone below 55F?

Has it been overly humid or overly dry?

Is there anything you can think of that may have interfered with
pollination?

Any insect damage?

Have you removed any part of the plant (aside from young suckers)?

..

Zone 5a in Canada's Far East.