Too many tomato fruits? Is this possible?

13 years ago

Hello!

I haven't thought before, that I would ask that..:p

This year is my second year growing tomatoes. The first time wasn't so succesful...

Now I have 6 plants. Two of them is of the "Matina" variety (intermediate, early tomato). One of these plants, the bigger one has so many tomatoes! It already has 40-50 tomatoes and over 20 flowers which are turning to minuscule tomatoes day by day. Some of them (5 or 8, the first pollinated flowers) are the size of an apricot. The rest of them have the size of a cherry or smaller.

And I am wondering... Do I have to remove some of the tiny tomatoes to help the plant ripen the others? It's been like that for a few weeks now.

Maybe I have to add some fertilizer? I was hoping I wouldn't need to.

I attached a photograph of the plant. The one mentioned above is the one the right.

They all seem a little stressed. They are.:P I want to know how many days they can stand without watering.

Here is a link that might be useful:

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Comments (4)

jerrya
13 years ago
I have always done a second fertilization after the fruit set to help give the plant additional nutrients for developement of fruit. This year for the first time I'm in earthtainers and had a similar heavy fruit set on Stupice. I have had serious BER, having pulled about 15 bad fruit from that plant and another 1/2 dozen from others. In my case, I believe the issue is too little calcium and I've been treating BER with calcuim at watering. I don't know if that will be an issue for you and if not, a good tomato fertilizer should be good. If you start having a lot of BER, look into the calcium issue though. Enjoy!
digdirt2
13 years ago
Maybe I have to add some fertilizer? I was hoping I wouldn't need to.

Why were you hoping that? ;) Under MOST circumstances supplemental feedings are needed throughout the growing season. A 1 time only fertilize-when-planted approach MAY work in a very well amended in-ground garden if the weather and all other factors cooperate.

But barring that, yes you will have to feed the plants. A commonly used routine for in-ground plants is to amend the planting hole, feed shortly after first fruit set, feed again 4-6 weeks later, and then, depending on the length of the growing season, once again in early fall.

Plants in containers will have to be fed on a regular basis of course as the nutrients leach out of the containers every time you water.

But too many fruits? Do you have to remove some? No, the production and the rate of ripening is genetic to the variety. The fruit will ripen when the time is right and the rest will continue to grow. But all this does assume that adequate nutrition will be made available.

Dave
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buzzsaw8
13 years ago
>>>I want to know how many days they can stand without watering.Letting tomato plants in containers go without water so that they wilt will permanently harm the plants.
Bets
13 years ago
pyroboy,

Those tomato plants need water, ASAP! (As soon as posible) If they don't get too crispy, I think they can recover.

Anytime a plant is in a container, it will need watering more often than a similar size plant in the ground. You may have to water twice a day in hot areas. (A single tomato plant can use 20 to 28 L of water a week when in the ground.) I've never been to Greece, but I think you will find you will have to water frequently.

If you find that the water runs through too quickly, find a way to slow down the delivery. Drip emitters work well. Or if that is not feasible for you, take some empty plastic jugs (4L or larger) and put a tiny pinhole in the bottom, then fill the jug with water and put them in the planter so that it leaks the water out slowly.

Hope that helps.

Betsy

Too many tomato fruits? Is this possible?

Comments (4)

jerrya

digdirt2

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