Cherry Tomato Plants

[Beowulf]

Recently, my wife tried her hand at growing some cherry tomato plants. Since most plants die in our home, we expected nothing. Well, in a short time, they are very tall but have yet to produce tomatoes. Does anyone here know how long it takes for them to produce cherry tomatoes? The Mrs. is becoming concerned that she has only some tall green plants that are "just there."

Thanks in advance. Neither of us are smart about gardening.

[Warlady]

Do you have them indoors? They prefer outdoors and the wind to polinate the blooms. If you keep them indoors put them net to a very sunny window because they require near full sun. Also feed them tomato food. Also, if they are in a pot make sure it's a large one. Tomato plants need lots of room for the roots. I would suggest transplanting them outside. If you don't have a place then transpot them to a large container and put them on the patio. Don't allow the soil to get too dry.

[Etaoin]

In Illinois we also are having problems. I have several tomato plants with no fruit, but my main problem is that everything is a month to 6 weeks late due to the cold Spring and the cool evenings. Tomato plants need 65 degrees at night for development and ripening.

Did you get any flowers at all?

Did you prune the plant? It helps to remove the suckers and excessive number of branches, otherwise all you get is a big green plant with few, if any ripe tomatoes.

[Beowulf]

Well, I've got it by a window but full sun is hard to maintain as I'm on one side of an apartment building. They have been inside as the nights have been getting cooler. We've had a few flowers but not many. At this point, it's a small miracle that they've survived as every plant before this has died. If nothing else, we've broken that cycle.

I'll try some tomato food and see if it helps.

[Warlady]

Beowulf, Miracle Grow is great!

[Beowulf]

Been using something like it and to my wife's desire she has some tomatoes growning. Hopefully the plants don't get too much taller as I've moved them inside and placed them under a bright flourescent light (which they like). I would be in deep doo-doo if I cut out a portion of the ceiling since I rent.

[Warlady]

That's wonderful. They do like lots of light. Don't overwater them and you might want to get some calcium to spray on the leaves. It prevents the bottom of the tomatoes from turning black. Although I'm not sure cherry tomatoes have that problem. I wish you lived in a house. You could really grow tomatoes then. They are so much fun to grow.

[Beowulf]

Found a couple more new ones growing. We're getting kinda excited since this is the first plant not only to survive in our home but it's doing better. I'll mention the calcium idea.

[Warlady]

It's called blossom end rot and you spray the mixture on the tomato leaves. I don't really think cherry tomatoes have that problem but it's nice to know about it. I'm so glad you're getting tomatoes. It IS very exciting to watch something you tend grow and produce. I miss my garden at the beach so much. It was something else.

Another thing. they need a breeze too. Since you are indoors you may want to put a fan nearby on low to medium speed. That may be why you aren't getting a lot of tomatoes. Since you don't have bees indoors a breeze will work.

[Etaoin]

[ QUOTE ]
Warlady said:
It's called blossom end rot and you spray the mixture on the tomato leaves. I don't really think cherry tomatoes have that problem but it's nice to know about it. I'm so glad you're getting tomatoes. It IS very exciting to watch something you tend grow and produce. I miss my garden at the beach so much. It was something else.

Another thing. they need a breeze too. Since you are indoors you may want to put a fan nearby on low to medium speed. That may be why you aren't getting a lot of tomatoes. Since you don't have bees indoors a breeze will work.

[/ QUOTE ]

Blossom End Rot is caused by too little watering. You can water once or twice a week but water thoroughly. As to pollinating, you can do it yourself with a fine paint brush. Another thing that will promote growth and more fruit is a couple of tablespoons of EPSOM SALTS placed so that it soaks down to the roots. It is cheap and will last for a couple of years. In the Spring, when planting, I put it in the bottom of the hole.

BTW you might want to check out Http://organicgardening.com

[Warlady]

Etaoin I was always told blossom end rot was from lack of calcium in the plant and usually from too much rain. Anyway, no matter what the reason they make a spray that prevents it.

[Etaoin]

Don't need no spray. Just water till wet to depth of 1 inch 2 X per week.

[DesertFox]

How do you know when the water has reached one inch? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon127.gif

[HarvickFan29]

Beo, is your wife growing those cherry tomatoes this year? I wanted to know because I have a great recipe for cherry tomatoes that your family might like. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon2.gif

[Beowulf]

Nope. Those plants died awhile back. I'm not surprised since plants don't live in my house very long BUT....

She does buy them so if you would like to send the recipe anyway, I'm sure she'd be interested. Thanks in advance.

[HarvickFan29]

Yeah, they have been buy one get one free here recently in our stores. Okay, Beo! I'm gonna post it in the recipe thread because I might add it to the Freecer cookbook. Please copy it and give it to your wife.

Look for it in a couple of days or so. I know you're busy so I'll get a message to you that it has been posted.

[Etaoin]

When the ground quits soaling it up immediately, you have watered enough. It is best to water deeply once or twice a week rather than daily with a shallower watering. This encourages the roots to go deep!

[sunsettommy]

Etaoin I was always told blossom end rot was from lack of calcium in the plant and usually from too much rain. Anyway, no matter what the reason they make a spray that prevents it.
You can prevent the problem with consistent watering.I never have it because I never allow the young fruits lose it's moisture to the plant.Water early in the day in the spring is good.This allows the ground to warm up some by evening.

In Sandy soils,it is good to strip most of the leaves of the plants to just the top 2-3 leaves and bury all the rest of the plant VERTICALLY with well mixed COMPOSTED soil.In heavy soils try the trench method instead.This way you will have from the start a huge root mass growing.Then since the weather is still cool in the spring,I use the 1 gallon plastic milk jugs with the bottom cut off and with the cap on at night only helps reduce the cooling winds from stressing the plants.I press the bottom end of the jugs into the ground,this makes small greenhouse effect.I NEVER fertilize the Tomatoes during the growing season,it has all it needs from the 50/50 Compost to soil.Fertilizing with a lot of Nitrogen DELAYS blossom development and creates rampant weak stemmed growth.

When the weather is warm,apply fresh CLEAN grassclippings to 1 1/2" depth around the plants,this helps stabilize the soil temps and also reduce or eliminate bossom end rot.I add some grass clippings several times over the hot summer,but never more than 2" thick.I prefer the 4"by6" open mesh by 6' tall fencing for its strength and easy to reach into the plant setting.

I have ALWAYS had excellent results with them.

[TXJEEPGEEK]

I already have over a dozen green cherry tomatos on my four plants.