Topic: Tommies

[northener]

Hello. Got half of the greenhouse planted with Tomatoes at the weekend they're looking really well with this burst of global warming. Last year the crops were average one thing i did notice was not every flowere produced a fruit. Any tips how to encourage more fruit?

[manicscousers]

is it to do with pollination ?..mum in law says brush the plants with your hand every day, encourages more fruit  :)

[northener]

Yeah i think it is pollination. Someone told me to tickle the flowers with a tiny paint brush. Wondered if there were better ways.

[manicscousers]

we've planted marigolds next to them, hopefully to bring in the insects, also french marigolds, same and to protect from green/whitefly..can't see myself with a paintbrush  :-\ :)

[tricia]

I think it's more to do with temperatures. Tomatoes won't set fruit if the greenhouse gets too hot, so I've found that spraying them with water a couple of times a day if it is very warm helps to keep the temperature down a tad. Ventilation from various directions also helps. But I'm sure someone else will have a more scientific explanation.

Tricia

[davyw1]

very scientific, as i walk past the Tomato,s i tap every support on each Tomato  to knock the pollen out. Its a very tiering and takes lots of consentration.

[saddad]

Too high temp was the real prob last year but damping and tapping can both help!
 ;D

[northener]

I can tap and damp no probs. Same as you manics don't fancy brush in hand. Thanks for ideas.

[growmore]

 A rabbits tail or one of those big fluffy make up brushes .I Think they are called blusher brushes ..Is  that  the right name ladies?  :)  I only use this method  on the first bottom trusses of flowers ..When more appear  higher up the plant.  It is the tap and shake the canes method  ..

[jennym]

Blusher brush it is then, Jim. Must admit am more likely to find a blusher brush knocking around in my handbag than the odd rabbits tail  ;D

[tim]

No apologies for reprinting the expert (Colin Simpson) view.

[northener]

Thanks for that Tim. Misting at noon sounds good.