On 22 Jul 2006 21:39:38 -0700, "Mike S."
wrote:



Other than that, none of the other tomatoes are ripening. And there are
only a few tomatoes on each of the plants. I would say maybe 3-5 on
each plant. Then, within the past two days two hornworms decided to eat
up most of one of the plants (either the Better Boy or Big Boy) and
another hornworm was on the Patio one but it didn't get that much
damage.

Do my plants stand a chance of producing any more tomatoes? It seems
like something is wrong with them. Shouldn't they be producing more
tomatoes by now? I'm thinking they're not getting enough fertilizer or
something like that.

When we planted them, I followed the advice of a relative who said to
plant them in a mixture of potting soil and some dirt from the flower
bed. I had been using a liquid fertilizer similar to Miracle Grow but I
thought I was using it too much so I haven't used it in a month.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your soil or your
containers, I think it's the fertilizer. I think your plants got
too much nitrogen and the growth went to leaf rather than fruit.

I know that Miracle Grow makes a specific food for tomatoes, so
you might consider that, or you might consider giving one
application of MG's Blossom Booster fertilizer. I mix composted
manure into the soil mixtures of my potted tomatoes and peppers,
then add a little bit of an organic fertilizer -Tomato Tone from
Espoma - to the top of the potting mix every two weeks or so. If
you decide to use a pelleted fertilizer, be careful that you
don't burn the plant by adding too much at once. I add about a
forth to a half, depending on the size and diameter of the pot,
of the recommended amount for plants in the ground.

You didn't say where you are, but the recent heat wave that hit
the country would stop most tomato plants from setting fruit. If
yours were a little late getting settled into their containers,
they might not have set much fruit before the heat hit.


Any suggestions on what I should be doing? Honestly, I don't care so
much if the tomatoes don't ripen because I prefer fried green tomatoes
anyway. Also, is the Better Boy resistant to hornworms.

No.

It's strange
that only two of the three plants were affected by them.

Moths and butterflies can be very fussy about where they lay
their eggs. Or, the moth may have laid eggs on that plant, but a
predator got the eggs or young caterpillars before you saw them.


Penelope

--
You have proven yourself to be the most malicious,
classless person that I've encountered in years.
- "pointed"