Brandywine Tomatoes/No Fruit/Blossom Shrivel

11 years ago

Hi Everybody,

I have about 5 brandywine heirloom tomato plants in my front yard. Only one of them has started to set fruit, but even so there are only two little tomatoes starting. I've also noticed that a lot of the blossoms seem to be shriveling, but not producing a tomato. Does anyone have any idea of what I should do if anything?

By the way, I dug out all of the roots about two feet deep before starting the garden and amended the Georgia clay with Organic Miracle grow soil, mostly broken down wood chips from a ground up stump in our yard, some nitrogen compost (our kitchen scraps-broken down for a year, very stinky and full of worms), and about three large bags of organic balanced compost from the store. I've also spread another whole bag of organic balanced compost on top of the soil and topped that with natural mulch...don't know what else to do???

Please Help!

Stellabee

p.s. My organic roma plant is setting more fruit than the brandywines but not as much as I was told it would either.

p.s.s. Other vegetables like heirloom zucchini, yellow squash, and green beans are doing very well.

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Comments (11)

ikea_gw
11 years ago
Brandywine doesn't like really hot and humid weather during pollination. How's your weather been?
dhromeo
11 years ago
It's called blossom drop, and it can happen for a number of reasons. With you being in Georgia I'd suspect the culprit is high temps. You could try and mulch around the base of the plant with hay or grass, something that would insulate the soil and lower the temps.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blossom Drop Solutions
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Wow. That's a great example of catfacing there. Back in the day, some of the veterans of the Growing Tomatoes forum had an "ugliest tomato" contest for a few years. We got some doozies, but that one would have definitely been a contender if you'd let it grow. Malformed blossoms (and therefore fruit) are common on young plants and in cool weather; you had both. Brandywine, with its big blossoms, is more susceptible than smaller-fruited varieties. Expect a couple more of these as the plant settles into maturity, then it'll start making more normal fruit for you. If one of these weird ones ripens up, it's still fine to eat (other than having a little scar tissue you may want to cut out). --Alison
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DC, I'm not familiar with growing tomatoes in Florida. I also am not familiar with the term "lanai" applied to a part of the house. Is that an enclosed porch or sun room? If the area is screened in or otherwise protected from natural breezes, you'll have to stimulate the blossoms by hand to shed pollen and self-pollinate. This is what folks have to do in a greenhouse ... or else keep a colony of bumble bees inside the greenhouse. You can help the blossoms self-pollinate by gently thumping the stems near the blossoms with your fingers to rapidly vibrate the blossoms. You can also vibrate the back of the blossom structure gently with an electric toothbrush to set up a vibration similar to what a bumble bee would cause with its wings. I have even heard of people using a leaf blower to create an artificial breeze in the greenhouse. Also, keep in mind, when the night time temps get up in the 80s and the daytime temps exceed 92*F, especially when associated with high humidity, the pollen will get clumpy due to humidity or actually become sterile from the heat. Brandywine are notoriously susceptible to poor pollination under even slightly adverse conditions.
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There's other tomatoes to grow that won't make you walk the floor wringing your hands (been there) and they rival Brandywine in taste but are have a much more reliable production. There have been threads here where the pro's have listed their favorite tomatoes (Carolyn, digdirt, hoosiercherokee, Darrel Jones, to name a few) and interestingly I don't remember one of them having Brandywine listed. I use to swear by Belgium Giant but the last couple years after growing some from "the list" I've been finding some great ones that are costing Giant Belgium a place in my garden--there's only so much room. I'll always keep Mortgage Lifter though 'cause I really like the taste I can see why Radiator Charlie sold so many and for that outrageous price back in those days.
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Its environmental...usually. Check the FAQ's or do a search on blossoom drop. You'll find an abundance of info
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digdirt2
11 years ago
Here you go.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blossom Drop FAQ
Stellabee
Original Author
11 years ago
Hey Guys,

Thank you all so much for the info. You all stated about the same thing about the temperature, and I feel you must be right. People keep saying it's humid here (I don't think so b/c I'm from here), but I keep hearing that lately. I also know that we've hit the high 80's/early 90's this last two weeks.

I'm going to try the mulch and hay thing and go find a clean, wispy paint brush:-)

Thanks, Everybody!
jeffwul
11 years ago
Arent Brandywines known to do that when it's not perfect out?
suncitylinda
11 years ago
Yes, some Brandywines are said to have difficulty setting fruit, even in good conditions.
isham4bass
8 years ago
I have the same problem....BUT.....it really hasn't been that hot here...for long periods of time. It hit 100 a couple weeks ago....its not humid ...but I am not seeing ANY blooms...
this has been a rainy year for western Kansas... but not that hot.
I also have the same problem with all the squash though. Lots of blooms...NO FRUIT..I even planted marigolds to attract bees and others to help pollinate....but not getting much fruit.
My other tomatoes seem to be doing fine...with fruit
HELP.........
daniel_nyc
8 years ago
Brandywine flowers dying and falling off
jimmy56_gw (zone 6 PA)
8 years ago
Brandywine is a later tomato then most at least here in my region with my experience, Make sure their getting water and I usually water with miracle gro every 14 days or half strength every 7 days.
Robin Morris
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
See this old thread:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2169768/any-tips-for-increasing-brandywine-production

The most important part from this thread IMO is:

Daytime temperatures above 90°F and night temperatures above 70°F result in reduced flowering and fruit set. There is considerable evidence that night temperature is the critical factor in setting tomato fruit, the optimal range being 59° to 68°F. With night temperatures much below or above this critical range, fruiting is reduced or absent.

So where I live now (on the SF peninsula) seems to be the perfect weather for brandywines. My 3 brandywines are covered with giant tomatoes. For reference, my weather here is dry with highs in the mid to low 70s and lows in the mid 50s...

isham4bass, I pollinate my squash by hand... if I relied on the bees, I wouldn't get any. Just put some pollen from the male in the female (gosh that sounds dirty).
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years ago
I have found out that Brandywine is hard to get it produce fruits.
Down South it is too hot for her and up North too cool and short a season. I have tried both in Atlanta, GA and here in PNW.

This year I am experimenting with a hybrid version called Brandy Boy. So far not very good either. But it is almost the beginning of summer. We shall see.

Sey

Brandywine Tomatoes/No Fruit/Blossom Shrivel

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ikea_gw

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Brandywine Tomatoes/No Fruit/Blossom Shrivel

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