Written by Charlotte West
Tomatoes are a moody crop and are unpredictable each year. Many of us experience lush vines and little yield. The most common reason for this is over-watering. Usually tomatoes only need watering every four to seven days. But another reason for an ‘all vine and no fruit’ crop is a lack of nitrogen, or even night temperatures. If night temperatures are above 75 degrees at the time of fruit set then you may experience blossom drop. The same holds true for temperatures below 55 degrees. Fruit set is a term describing the flowers on a plant or tree whether or not they produce fruit after pollination. To many a gardener, the most critical hours in the life of a tomato are the hours of its fruit set.
One of the biggest questions is, “Will my tomatoes drop or set fruit?” It takes two or more days to find out. It takes this long for the pollen to germinate the tube. If you would like to increase pollination on your own you can take an electric toothbrush to each flower cluster and give it a good daily vibration for a few days. Don’t worry you are not going to knock the blossoms off; tomatoes are tough plants and forgiving as well. If you missed out on the first fruit set there is no need for panic, tomatoes usually have more than one fruit set.
So what to do if you are in the second stage of bearing fruit and your tomatoes are green. Your plants are lush and who knows when a hard freeze will hit. In this case, you have options. As tomatoes ripen from inside out, you do not need sunlight to ripen them. Tomatoes can ripen in the shade or a dark spot. One option is to dig up your plants and hang in a shaded or dark place such as a garage or even in your home. Ripening will be slow but you can save your fruits this way. You can always research fun recipes for green tomatoes. One of my favorites is fried green tomatoes or some other good Southern cuisine. There are many quirks and myths about tomatoes. It is not necessarily a solid citizen, but when the growth factors are right, tomato plants are very forgiving and can produce magnificently. To me, well worth the gamble. After all, tomatoes are my favorite food.
Charlotte West moved to southern Utah in 2004 from the farmlands of southern Arkansas, where cultivating the earth is a way of life. Her experiences give her a unique perspective on how plants grow, adapt, and survive in different climates. She finds great joy in sharing her knowledge with others and tending to her garden. From seedlings to 70-year-old elms, she can help you with your horticulture needs.
