So My fathter is retired to Florda and has a garden where he grows various vegis. He grows tomatoes in pots and in the ground.

What strikes me as strange is that he has very little luck with the plants, in that he gets 1-2 tomatoes per plant, whether potted or in the ground. He does water once a day and fertilizes with miracle grow... any suggestions?

Thanks

He may have a pollination problem. Try tapping the flowers daily around mid day when the humidity is lowest. Tomatoes need to be vibrated to transfer pollen.

If those plants are grown outside then pollination shouldn't be a problem. Simple wind blowing the plants ought to take care of that.

Watering once a day sounds like rather a lot unless the container plants are in black plastic in the direct sun. How much Miracle Gro does he use?

.....Alan.

I think he fertilizers every 2-3 weeks. The plants dont tend to grow well. Do tomatoes plants grow in the heat of Florida in the summer?

They grow well here in the deep south. I get a few hundred pounds every year. If they are grown in shade they are much less productive, but should still produce more than a couple fruit.

If he's using the fertilizer at the recommended rates he should back off to no more than once a month and slow down on the watering unless he can determine the soil is dry more than two inches down. Except for midsummer they need as much sun as he can give them.

.....Alan.

http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/Hort/2004%20News%20Articles/2004-10oct_tomato_fruit_set.pdf

If we believe the article without putting it in proper context, it would be impossible for the inland valley of California to have tomatoes. But we do have an abundance of tomatoes. Our night time temperature during the growing season can go below 58 deg F, sometimes bordering in the low 40's. Our day time temperature could exceed 90 deg F for more than 30 days during the summer, and again we should have no fruit sets because tomatoes will set fruits when temperature is at 70 deg F.

But we do have cultivars like California Heat Wave that are selected for our peculiar temperature. If you have temperature patterns like that of California, it may be wise to buy cultivars adopted for it.

Sandy soils tend to be acidic, so using Miracle Gro in acidic soils is not appropriate because it is an acidifying fertilizer compounding the problem. Another thing to look at is the pH of irrigation water and test if it is alkaline or acidic.

There are many pockets of soil in Florida that are calcareous, and could result in high pH water and soil, and in that case, we need more acidifying power than what Miracle Gro can provide.

So it is important to test what your soil pH and water soil pH is. The best way to find out is to call your local Agricultural Extension office and they will provide free information about the local conditions, and even give recommendations.

As far as temperature is concerned, one has to look about the specific cultivar if it is suited for the local region.

Frank
Can you post pictures of the plants? TSWV has gotten so bad in some areas of the south that only hybrids have any chance to fruit. Tomatoes are not too fussy about soil PH because many of us add a considerable amount of Garden lime to prevent BER. As for water, mature tomatoes with fruit as a rule of thumb require about 50-60 ounces of water per day and they love fertilizer especially when fruiting.
It’s ironic since I just saw on the news at noon that Florida tomato farmers were plowing under their crops early because of low prices. That’s a sad site to see all of those tomatoes go to waste.
Karl

Is he growing hybrids or heirloom? I notice my heirloom aren't nearly as productive as my hybrids. Then again, my golden retriever was eating them so I don't know how many I orginially had.

Phillip

I agree that any nighttime temperature sensitivity has to be variety specific. Where I live the average nighttime low temperature never gets above 52F and it only gets that warm for a few days in late July yet I have no trouble setting tomatoes. However, I have heard from several sources that there are some varieties that will not set tomatoes where I live because of the low nighttime temperatures. I have seen tomotoes that won't set because of excessive nitrogen. The plants grow huge but no tomatoes.

well few other things, he tries to grow tomatoes year round.... not much for crop rotation, although he does by soil at the local home depot (or equiv). .He also grows in pots they do need water every day as I have seen them wilt

He also leave about a half mile from the east coast so it is moist..........

The plants that I have seen that are a 1-2 feet high have only a few tomatoes.........and like mine in mass, die from the bottom up ...........


thanks everyone keep the ideas coming

Not sure of the varieties,,,, is that really important?

He can pollinate tomato blooms with Gibberellic acid, by purchasing the Ferti-lome's product "Tomato & Pepper Set II". Any Home Depot, Lowe's or garden center should carry it. - Millet (1,358-)