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Growing Tomatoes

Tons of blooms late in season can I produce more fruit

16 years ago

I have three tomatoes plants in a 30 gal pot. They are patio tomatoes. Its late in the season and I have tons of blooms. Is there anyway I can make these blooms fertile and produce more fruit late in the season. Also what is the best way to pollinate them. We are lacking bees. Thank You Eric

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Comments (6)

brazosvalleygardener
16 years ago
Hi Eric,

I have no experiance with growing in zone 5 climates but you should have no problem getting more fruit production as long as your season is not cut short with freezing temperatures or very low temps.

Not to worry with the pollination of the blooms as tomato plants are selfpollinating and do not require an outside agent to to pollinate.

So you should be good to go providing the weather cooperates.

Jay
carolyn137
16 years ago
Its late in the season and I have tons of blooms. Is there anyway I can make these blooms fertile and produce more fruit late in the season. Also what is the best way to pollinate them. We are lacking bees. Thank You Eric

*****
Eric, I'm in zone 5 and zone 5's can be different as regards first killing frost, but here it's expected almost any night and we're grateful for having as many days that we have had.

From the time that the blossoms set fruit it takes anywhere's from maybe 35-55 days to close to ripe, depending on the variety, so I really can't see how you could get good fruit size.

You don't need bees since tomato blossoms self pollenize about 95% of the time.

It would help a lot if you could indicate where you are gardening, as to better understanding your zone 5.

It would be possible to cover the plants as most of us do when frost is expected but without having anything to protect in your case, I'm wondering what the benefit could possibly be.

Carolyn
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windclimber
16 years ago
Should you be in the center of the USA, ........ I would have to say the farther south in zone 5 the better chance you would have.
Here , I pulled mine today ...... to the compost....
Found lots of onions and planted the cover crop. Season is fix'n to change

Tom
barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
16 years ago
Having the tomato plants in a 30 gal. pot makes a difference. I'd mobilize that pot so that you can move it into a garage every evening and roll it back out into the sun at mid morning. This may be more work than you want to do but this is only the beginning.

In a few weeks you will not have as much sunshine and the fruits will develop more slowly. Many of them may be disfigured by the cool weather during polination and you should cull those to help put more energy into desirable fruits. Plant foliar diseases will also take their toll on your plants in the more humid fall weather. More and more of your time may be devoted to caring to dying plants.

I'm going through this with greenhouses so I emphathize with you. Usually around Thanksgiving you get involved with other seasonal distractions and the plants just don't fit in with your plans.

But, don't dispair. Seed catalogs are in the mail by then and you can begin planning for an early crop for '08. Take a few notes now of things you would do differently next year.
coolbythecoast
16 years ago
When I want to feel like I am doing something to help pollination, I buzz the newly opened flowers somewhere around noon with any old electric toothbrush. I can see pollen pour out of the flowers, but then I can hear the sun hiss as it sets in the ocean, so you better perform the experiment for yourself.

Gary
barkeater
16 years ago
Easy answer to your question. In one word: NO.

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