The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

Message Board Archives

Any gardening experts on here?

 
black 2017-11-18 08:57:00 

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?

 
Halliwell 2017-11-18 09:11:38 

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

 
black 2017-11-18 09:26:30 

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.

 
cricketmad 2017-11-18 09:32:23 

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.

 
Runs 2017-11-18 09:37:08 

In reply to black

Research self pollinating and cross pollinating vegetables and apply accordingly. wink

 
black 2017-11-18 09:44:22 

I had a wonderful season the year before, the cherry tomatoes were abundant and delicious.

 
steveo 2017-11-18 10:16:39 

In reply to black

Where did you get the seeds from?

Indoors or outdoors?

As per Runs post, were there insects pollinating?

 
Headley 2017-11-18 10:39:30 

In reply to black

would not have used seeds if my wife hadn't purchased the wrong stuff.


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. lol

 
black 2017-11-18 10:41:08 

In reply to Headley

lol lol lol

 
black 2017-11-18 10:47:32 

In reply to steveo


Where did you get the seeds from?


Lowes. My wife bypassed the plants and went for the seeds.

Indoors or outdoors?


I didn't know that it made a difference. I would not have purchased seeds.


As per Runs post, were there insects pollinating?


Yes, I made a point of checking to see if they were being pollinated.

 
Runs 2017-11-18 10:50:56 

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 cool


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.

 
black 2017-11-18 11:05:41 

In reply to Runs

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


Learned a lot already, next time I'll check for the things you mentioned.


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


That was the first thing that came to mind, so I made it a point to looks for bees.

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 11:44:24 

In reply to black

Give me the average temperature (daytime and night time) at the time of flowering...I'll take it from there.

 
black 2017-11-18 11:55:13 

In reply to Courtesy

Oh wow, this is getting interesting. lol

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?

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 12:03:07 

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.

 
black 2017-11-18 12:23:55 

In reply to Courtesy

The average night time temp needs to be 60 - 75 (perfect)... 55- 75 (can work)
.

Yeah, but that was the beginning of the season. The temp stays in the upper 90s to 100 or higher in full summer.

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 12:29:35 

In reply to black

...The temp stays in the upper 90s to 100 or higher in full summer.

That's your problem right there. You will get flowers but they will drop a few days after opening.

 
black 2017-11-18 12:42:10 

In reply to Courtesy

That's your problem right there. You will get flowers but they will drop a few days after opening


Well, that would be a problem for all farmers in Texas, it didn't happen all the other times that I had planted.

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 12:48:05 

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.

 
black 2017-11-18 12:53:58 

In reply to Courtesy


And, do you plant about the same time every year?


but planting in the shade in a no-no for tomatoes.


Limited shade. They got sunshine but not all day.

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 12:54:59 

...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.

big grin

 
Dan_De_Lyan 2017-11-18 13:55:04 

In reply to Runs

Research self pollinating and cross pollinating vegetables and apply accordingly. wink


Breaking News: Man caught humping his garden plants. HORticulture took a wrong turn

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 15:45:32 

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 ?

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 15:58:06 

In reply to Dan_De_Lyan

lol lol lol

Btw, The Lion, sometimes I have to pollinate my cucumber and pumpkin flowers.

 
Runs 2017-11-18 16:02:22 

In reply to Courtesy

I pollinated my squash last summer.

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 16:06:35 

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.

 
Runs 2017-11-18 16:18:31 

In reply to Courtesy

My neighbor helped himself to a few, I didn’t mind as it was quite a lot but a thank you from him would have done wonders. razz

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 16:23:37 

In reply to Runs

My neighbor helped himself to a few, I didn’t mind as it was quite a lot but a thank you from him would have done wonders.


...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.

 
black 2017-11-18 16:30:19 

In reply to Courtesy

Next time I am in Texas I'd like to visit your farm


You purposely used farm, didn't you? lol

How did a little garden turn into a farm?

 
Runs 2017-11-18 16:31:43 

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.

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 16:38:41 

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.

big grin

 
Courtesy 2017-11-18 16:43:56 

In reply to Runs

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.

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.

 
black 2017-11-18 17:18:31 

In reply to Runs

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.


Nice