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grasswire

(50,130 posts)
Sun Aug 19, 2012, 04:13 PM Aug 2012

many tomato blossoms are not turning into fruits

It's my understanding that indeterminate tomatoes do not require pollinators. Many -- probably half or more -- of the blossoms on my sungold maters are not converting to fruit. What's up with that? I'm used to seeing full bunches.

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NRaleighLiberal

(60,576 posts)
2. No tomatoes require pollinators (perfect flowers - pollinate upon opening) - so something else...
Sun Aug 19, 2012, 04:18 PM
Aug 2012

Could be the plant is setting what it can handle as far as available nutrients (you never get all blossoms set), though could be impacted by heat or humidity (yet that is much more of an issue with larger fruited types).

Arkansas Granny

(31,871 posts)
3. Many tomatoes will not set fruit if the temps are too high.
Sun Aug 19, 2012, 04:19 PM
Aug 2012

When it cools off a little, they will usually start getting fruit again.

grasswire

(50,130 posts)
4. thanks everyone!
Sun Aug 19, 2012, 05:40 PM
Aug 2012

It's probably the heat, then. I have them growing in containers, staked up against a white wall that gets a lot of heat. I'll be sure to do a lot of feeding to sustain the growth. The two sungolds I have eaten thus far were sooooooooo good.

 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
6. Determinate or indeterminate, they still need pollinators. How's your bee population?
Mon Aug 20, 2012, 10:25 AM
Aug 2012

They're not the only ones. Flies, moths, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even random beetles and spiders will pollinate. Our yard is full of clover so we're flooded with bumbles and honey bees this year. Any sign of blossom-end rot on the fruits that do set? If so, their feet are too wet. It's been a weird season.

patricia92243

(12,876 posts)
9. I was surprised to see some people didn't think they needed pollinating. My squash didn't get
Wed Aug 22, 2012, 07:31 AM
Aug 2012

pollinated last year. I have planted several "bee friendly" plants, and this year everything is fine.

 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
11. Wait a minute. They don't require another plant (like kiwis), but nightshades do require pollinators
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 08:42 AM
Aug 2012

Some plants have to have two different plants (and in the case of kiwis, a male and a female), but a lone tomato plant will produce. In that context it is self-pollinating, but you still have to have insects to distribute the pollen between flowers. Bumbles do the heavy lifting on our nightshades. I've never heard of a plant producing without pollinators. Perhaps I have some research to do.

BlueToTheBone

(3,747 posts)
7. It may be the heat. Last year
Mon Aug 20, 2012, 10:59 AM
Aug 2012

I had tomatoes that ripened in November because fruit set in September.

Botany

(72,667 posts)
8. It is the heat
Tue Aug 21, 2012, 09:27 PM
Aug 2012

day time temps > 94 degrees for a period of time cuts down the pollination %

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