Chose a German Pink tomato plant from the farmers' market

[sprinkleeninow]

and it looks good but keeps dropping blooms.

We read up on heirlooms and they seem to be 'divas'.

We pollinated with a Q-tip last week.

Have tomato-veg fertilizer from last year. Read where it might need more nitrogen?

Last year chose two hybrids and they produced nicely. But the variety I wasn't thrilled with.

Should we give up?

TIA

💙🇺🇸🌊

[Xipe Totec]

1. Temperature is critical for tomatoes to set their blooms

Primary Causes of Blossom Drop
Temperature: Tomato plants drop their flowers under extreme temperature regimes, such as high daytime temperatures (above 85°F), high nighttime temperatures (above 70°F), or low nighttime temperatures (below 55°F) (Table 1). Optimal growing conditions for tomatoes are daytime temperatures between 70°F and 85°F. While tomato plants can tolerate more extreme temperatures for short periods, several days or nights with temperatures outside the optimal range will cause the plant to abort flowers and fruit and focus on survival (Mills 1988). Temperatures over 104°F for only 4 hours can cause the flowers to abort. If nighttime temperatures fall below 55°F or rise above 70°F, or if daytime temperatures rise above 85°F, the pollen becomes tacky and nonviable, preventing pollination from occurring and causing the blossom to dry and drop (Chester 2004; Levy, Rabinowitch, and Kedar 1978; Mills 1988; Ozores-Hampton and McAvoy 2010).

Low temperature: Low temperatures interfere with the growth of pollen tubes, preventing normal fertilization. The pollen may even become sterile, which causes blossoms to drop.Tomato fruit do not set until nighttime temperatures are above 55°F for at least two consecutive nights (Chester 2004; Ozores-Hampton and McAvoy 2010).

High temperature: Sustained high temperatures, especially at night, rapidly deplete the food reserves that are produced in the tomato during the day. The result is sticky pollen, altered viability, and poor or no pollination. Ultimately, the blossom dries and falls off. Female flower parts can also undergo morphological changes, such as drying of the stigma (Mills 1988; Ozores-Hampton and McAvoy 2010).


If the temp is not right you're basically screwed.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1195

[sprinkleeninow]

5. We read these conditions on an extension service. Sheesh. Had really high day temps in May.

Then leveled off. Now a few typically moderate days. Next week up in the low 90's again. One reason they could be going bonkers.

Gonna work with them a bit. Mb we'll get another hybrid b4 it's too late. Last year was wunnerful having nice fresh tomahtoes at the ready.

Thx.

[Phoenix61]

2. I've got two Yellow Pear Tomato plants

that are going crazy. I keep waiting to walk out and here them say "Feed me Phoenix, feed me". They are a heritage tomato.

[sprinkleeninow]

6. Do you have fruit already?

The heirlooms are so special, not run of the mill.

Everything extra nice and fancy usually entails particular treatment and costs more!

[Phoenix61]

8. I've gotten lots of tomatoes and they

are covered with more. My grandmother used to grow them and made jam out of them. I've looked for them in grocery stores for years. I stumbled over them this year at a seed and feed store. I'll definitely have them again but I'll plan better. They need a sturdy, 5ft trellis.

[sprinkleeninow]

10. Good job!

You're not kidding about their height. Ours is already almost four feet and trying to produce.

We can get German Johnsons and other heirlooms at the farmers' market. Occasionally our chain grocer even has heirlooms. But the farmers' ones are never refrigerated. You can't trust the grocery stores. I've returned tomatoes that my husband brings home cold.

That's something that your grandmother made jam out of them. My mom-in-law and her family always had their 'tomato butter' in stock year round. Mom would come with a bushel of tomatoes at a time during the best of season. She gifted her kiddos with this delight.

My paternal grandmother [Baba] had peach, Italian plum trees and a wonderful Queen Anne cherry tree where we lived with her. She'd put up peaches, cherries, red stewed tomatoes and pickled green ones every year. Them cherries-- hoo boy!

All the best!

💙🇺🇸🌊

[dameatball]

3. Common problem with heirlooms. I have had good results with a simple spray that prolongs blooms.

available at any plant outlet. It really does work. I can't remember the main ingredient.

[sprinkleeninow]

4. Gee, thank you for that. We might have stumbled across it

eventually. I would like to be persistent bc it's in a large container, not in the ground.

This spray stuff is ringing a bell!

[NutmegYankee]

7. I have German Pink tomatoes.

The late spring always plays hell on heirlooms. Too many cold nights followed by warm days.

For max blossoms, use a fertilizer with an NPK ratio that has the middle number higher (2x) than the first number.

Also, I’ve had a lot of luck setting blossoms using an ultrasonic toothbrush to vibrate the stem just before the flower. This shakes the pollen out and sets the fruit.

[sprinkleeninow]

9. Appreciate the info. Will purchase some proper food tomorrow.

The toothbrush thing is ingenious.

What's weird is when the blossom drops off or is ready to, the short stem they're attached to has turned yellow. I broke apart the blossom and there are tomatoes already formed?

Thank you for input. I don't want to give up so easily.

[NutmegYankee]

11. You probably saw the ovary of the flower.

It’s the female part of the flower waiting for the male stamen portion to provide pollen to fertilize it. Once fertilized it grows into the fruit, in this case a tomato.

http://tomatosphere.letstalkscience.ca/Resources/library/ArticleId/4767/the-life-cycle-of-a-tomato-plant.aspx

[sprinkleeninow]

12. Okay. You would think I'd have a knowledge of this at my age.

I will try all methods. Really would like to be successful with them.

Anything worthwhile doesn't come easily!

[CT is my birthstate. Miss it lots.]

[NutmegYankee]

13. Where do you live now?

I grew up in Virginia but have taken to the extremes of New England. It makes gardening challenging.