skip to main content

Growing Tomatoes

My tomatoes are too small!

16 years ago

Does anyone know why my tomatoes are so small? My biggest one has only been about three inches in diameter! I have excellent soil and my tomatoe plants all appear to be very healthy. Is it just to early in the season? I'm also concerned because they are in partial shade :-(.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

carolyn137
16 years ago
What varieties are you growing and what is the expected size of fruit for each variety?

When were they set outside?

And how much shade are they getting, on average?

Carolyn
digdirt2
16 years ago
While "partial shade" is far from ideal for tomato plants - the more sun the better - for the most part the size of the fruit is determined by the genetics of the variety you planted.

As Carolyn said, without knowing what varieties you planted no specific info is possible, but the odds are that if you are getting small fruit it's because your plants are small fruited varieties.

In addition to the variety names, are these very young plants? What have you fed them? Are these the first fruit on the plant? More info please? ;)

Dave
Related Discussions
started tomatoes from seed, too small?
Q
Comments (4)
My tomatoes are still small, too. But one of the reasons is when I repotted, I put as much of the plant underground as I could, to get more and stronger roots. I will do that again when I put them outside. Here's an interesting tomato story. An acquaintance of boss said for twenty years he lived next door to an older woman who waited EVERY YEAR until the 4th of July to go to the nurseries for tomato plants. She always got them cheap and they were probably in pretty sad shape. She brought them home and planted them all at that time. The neighbors all had six to eight weeks of growing time ahead of her, but every year, her tomatoes out produced them all. She kept everyone else in tomatoes. I've taken some comfort in that story this year as I said, mine are still small as well. I am growing several different kinds, hoping for sauce tomatoes, drying tomatoes, and just good eating tomatoes. Lets keep in touch over the season and see how things go.
...See More
tomatoes are too small
Q
Comments (6)
Random, You might try a Feed store if there are any nearby. Alfalfa in pellet form about ten bucks for 50 lbs. Add some molasses and water to make a foliar tea. Use the leftovers as a soil additive. See if they have any spoiled or loose alfalfa hay from broken bales that might be had for free. Get your own compost pile started. Check out the local big box store like Home Depot or Lowes (if they are in your area). Lowes often has garden products discounted late Summer to early Fall. I got bags of Epsom Salts and bottles of fish fertilizer for around a buck each last year. Might not help this year but you can get a start on imroving next years garden. Check out this website for some interesting uses of molasses. The author grows a different "product". But these guys are excellent and informed "gardeners". Good luck. http://www.gardenscure.com/420/organics/95401-molasses-sweet-organic-goodness.html
...See More
Tomatoes too small
Q
Comments (15)
Tomatoes are shallow rooted apparently. Are you mulching? I have a 7" deep raised bed sitting on concrete...I planted my big tomato plants in it and staked with bamboo. My Aunt gertie's gold grew a good size but only had a few tomatoes and so did my cherries with about 100 per plant...gianormous cherries which are normally average in my backyard soil. I planted 9 indeterminates plants in a 4 x 4 space in the raised bed.....no place for the roots to grow except 7" down. Tomato sizes came out like the tomatoes you buy at the grocery store still on the vine. I used backyard soil, compost, and peat moss in the beds. Didn't fertilize except at seedlings stage. Watered every day to every other day. I didn't mulch...but I had the peat moss. Wasn't a great result but I definitely believe that its the health of the plant that really matters...and a calcium source with a good slow release like Tomato Tone. I am a vegetarian so I don't fertilize with feather meal or bone meal etc...but it is a cheap and easy way to grow tomatoes.
...See More
Too small tomatoes
Q
Comments (1)
Once the temps start dropping below 50, your chances of getting ripe tomatoes drop dramatically. You can leave them in the ground as long as the weater allows, but be sure to cover them if it drops below 40. If temps are projected to be under 32, your best bet is to harvest them with as much of the vine still attached as possible, and place them in a sunny window to ripen. They will only turn red if there is already a slight blush of color. If they are all completely green still, just make pickled green tomato relish or fried green tomatoes. Next season, try pinching out the suckers on your plant once it gets over 2 feet tall. This will allow the plant to put its energy into fruit production instead of foliage.
...See More
jalapenogirl11
Original Author
16 years ago
Among my larger varieties(6 oz. and up) are: super siouxs, arkansas travelers, prudence purples, brandywines, and celebrities.

These are the first fruits on the plants, they've been in the ground since mid-April, and they're currently about 5 ft. tall. They were originally planted in a deep layer of humus, peat, and steer manure, and since then I have limed them. I'm not really sure how to describe the shade, there is a tree near the garden that casts indeterminate shadows during the day.

I forgot to mention that I have lost several tomatoes that have turned brown due to the fact that we have gotten an absurd amount of rain where I live.

Thank you!!!
jalapenogirl11
Original Author
16 years ago
Do you need any more info? Can somebody help?
jbann23
16 years ago
Ok, here comes the dumb question. Are they red or ripe when they're too small? If not, then they'll need some more time and consistant watering. If they are indeed ripe then that's probably the first fruit and again, water consistantly and the others will grow to the expected size. The heavy rains will stress a plant since it deprives the roots of air. Then they go to fruit early. Maybe, just maybe, the weather will improve and the rest of the fruit will ripen in their usual manner. Hope this helps. Best Regards.
sunsi
16 years ago
You are asking for help while offering very little information. A good start would be to post some photos of your plants and tomatoes and watering schedule. Also it would be helpful to know exactly how much "full sun" (as in hours per day) your plants recieve. Other info that would be helpful is your location/growing zone, blood type, educational background.....lol heh, you get the idea. :)

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

COLOR 10 Reasons to Make a Splash With Tomato Red

By Laura Gaskill

You won’t duck at these tomatoes. See how bold red shades can play up architecture, light up a dark spot and add drama

LIFE Kitchen Traditions: Tomato Season Meets a Family Legacy

By Tiffany Carboni

Somewhere a Sicilian great-great-grandmother is smiling at a bowl of American-made sauce

ARCHITECTURE Houzz Tour: Fresh Ideas in a Former Tomato Packing Shed

A formerly metal-clad structure is now a beautiful wood home designed to capture the light and preserve open space

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Ways to Grow Edibles in Small Places

By Matt Kilburn

No big backyard? Join in the grow-your-own fun with these small-space ideas for planting vegetables, fruits and herbs

GARDENING GUIDES Lush, Foodie Abundance in a Small Urban Garden

This modest backyard garden provides its owner with fruit and vegetables all year round, thanks to an innovative low-maintenance approach

SMALL KITCHENS 12 Genius Design Moves for Small Kitchens

By Natasha Saroca

These space-enhancing tricks can make compact cooking zones look and feel larger

Guest Picks: Herb Gardens for Small Kitchens and Gardens

By Liza Hawkins

Up the wall, easily portable or beautifully decorative, these solutions help even the smallest kitchens and balconies get growing

ENTERTAINING 8 Stress-Busting Tips for Hosting Small Gatherings

By Laura Gaskill

Make entertaining easy with these ideas for casual get-togethers

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

Sponsored

A.I.S. Renovations Ltd.

15 Reviews

Custom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County

More Discussions

Has anyone heard of a storage tomato? Looking at Giallorosso di Crispi

4

"Purple" tomatoes?

4