I planted some tomatoes this past summer from seed, my natural choice would have been to buy the young plant but my wife didn't notice that I planted young plants the year before. Never put a woman to do a man's job.
Anyway, it took a long time for the seeds to germinate but the plants grew well once they got going. They grew to normal height, blossomed and all, but never produced any fruits, not to mention, I was very frustrated. This is the first time since I've been gardening that this has ever happened.
Any suggestions to avoid this from occurring in the future?
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Any gardening experts on here?
In reply to black
You may have planted mule seeds
Happens when the source of the seed was a certain kind of cross/ back cross
Next time use seedlings from the nursery, or if you insist on seeds choose carefully
Modern veg cultivation is a highly controlled genetic jigsaw. Can lose that vigour in one generation
In reply to Halliwell
Thanks.
I will never use seeds again, it a waste of time in this limited planting season, would not have used seeds if my wife hadn't purchased the wrong stuff.
In reply to black
If you going from seeds start them off early indoors. Make sure you use seeding compost and just lightly cover the seeds.Before transplanting the seedlings put them out doors for a few days to harden them off.
In reply to black
Research self pollinating and cross pollinating vegetables and apply accordingly.
I had a wonderful season the year before, the cherry tomatoes were abundant and delicious.
In reply to black
Where did you get the seeds from?
Indoors or outdoors?
As per Runs post, were there insects pollinating?
In reply to black
When it comes to gardening I am not an expert but as a general rule don't get your wife involved in any activities outside the house. Chain em to the kitchen.
In reply to Headley
In reply to steveo
Where did you get the seeds from?
Lowes. My wife bypassed the plants and went for the seeds.
I didn't know that it made a difference. I would not have purchased seeds.
Yes, I made a point of checking to see if they were being pollinated.
In reply to black
You probably had the same variety that needed cross pollination. So they were not able to, next time either:
A Purchase self pollinating
B Purchase different varieties so they can cross pollinate
I looked up tomatoes
Many edible plants such as tomatoes are self-fertilizing or self-pollinating. This means that you only need one plant in the garden for fruit to set. In the case of tomatoes, the male and female parts are contained in the same flower. This truly makes tomato plants a top contender for container gardening.
Next time just gently shake the plant so the pollen can go from stamen to stigma, am surprised you said there were insects and no fruit.
In reply to Runs
A Purchase self pollinating
B Purchase different varieties so they can cross pollinate
Learned a lot already, next time I'll check for the things you mentioned.
That was the first thing that came to mind, so I made it a point to looks for bees.
In reply to black
Give me the average temperature (daytime and night time) at the time of flowering...I'll take it from there.
In reply to Courtesy
Oh wow, this is getting interesting.
I can't remember exactly but the beginning of the season, (when I planted) it was probably low to mid 70s, mornings could even dip to upper 60s. It stays in the 90-100 range here in Texas in the middle of summer.
Also, the plants did NOT get full sunshine, I made it a point of planting in an area that is shaded, part of the day. Do you think that has something to do with it?
In reply to black
You've got problems.
The average night time temp needs to be 60 - 75 (perfect)... 55- 75 (can work).
Day time 85-90 (No leeway).
6-8 hours of sunshine (No leeway)
Your problem suggests a temperature problem coupled with insufficient sunshine.
In reply to Courtesy
Yeah, but that was the beginning of the season. The temp stays in the upper 90s to 100 or higher in full summer.
In reply to black
That's your problem right there. You will get flowers but they will drop a few days after opening.
In reply to Courtesy
Well, that would be a problem for all farmers in Texas, it didn't happen all the other times that I had planted.
In reply to black
And, do you plant about the same time every year and is it the same variety?
...but planting in the shade in a no-no for all varieties of tomatoes.
In reply to Courtesy
Limited shade. They got sunshine but not all day.
...6-8 hours of sunshine?
Let me add, that it is very rare for tomatoes to flower and don't produce fruit even if they are tiny ones. Your problem does suggest a temperature problem or you may be growing second generation GMO seeds.
Next time I am in Texas I'd like to visit your farm.
In reply to Runs
Breaking News: Man caught humping his garden plants. HORticulture took a wrong turn
The Best place in the US for a fall garden: Houston, Texas
Black, you may wish to view this:
Just this minute got this from Jeff Bernhard.
Coincidence ?
In reply to Dan_De_Lyan
Btw, The Lion, sometimes I have to pollinate my cucumber and pumpkin flowers.
In reply to Courtesy
I pollinated my squash last summer.
In reply to Runs
Yep. I get the maximum yields doing it this way with some other useful techniques.
Very few female flowers go to waste until you reach maximum production for the plant.
In reply to Courtesy
My neighbor helped himself to a few, I didnt mind as it was quite a lot but a thank you from him would have done wonders.
In reply to Runs
...and that's the beauty of hobbie gardening - sharing the surplus produce with neighbours, family and friends and you know definitively what you are eating.
Organic, organic, organic.
Black, great thread, btw.
In reply to Courtesy
You purposely used farm, didn't you?
How did a little garden turn into a farm?
In reply to Courtesy
True, I look forward to gardening in Spring. I have a compost bin also where I put in all my old veggies, skins, cut grass etc I empty and mix into the soil around March. I am an outdoors kinda guy. Farming, fishing etc are some of my passions.
In reply to black
The vast acreages in Texas allow for farms. In the Caribbean we have to make do with backyard gardening or subsistence peanut farming.
In reply to Runs
Great. I saw a guy using deer heads in his heap composting yesterday. The amount of heat generated was incredible.
Way to go making your own compost.
In reply to Runs
Nice
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