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Question about low tomato production

Posted on 7/9/19 at 7:32 pm
Posted by FearTheFish
Member since Dec 2007
3770 posts
Posted on 7/9/19 at 7:32 pm
I have a raised garden and planted seeds directly in the soil about the 2nd week of April. The plants grew VERY well, but it took a while for them to bloom flowers.

I only got about 3 tomatoes before the heat kicked to > 90 degrees. I doubt any of the new flower buds will produce anything.

Two questions:

1) Since this was my first year doing tomatoes, what should I do differently next year to boost production? (e.g., start from seeds and transplant? Trim earlier?)

2) Instead of ripping the plans out after these 3 tomatoes finish growing, should I just leave the plants in the ground and see if they produce in the fall? They are heirloom tomatoes I got from a seed exchange - seem to be normal, big red tomatoes.
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
14816 posts
Posted on 7/9/19 at 7:35 pm to
Start seeds in January and transplant mid to late March. After you are sure the last frost has passed. You definitely waited too late.

If you can keep the plants healthy, then I don’t see a reason not to just let them keep going until the fall. Got nothing to lose.
This post was edited on 7/9/19 at 7:56 pm
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
17334 posts
Posted on 7/9/19 at 7:40 pm to
First, you probably could have started the seeds earlier, but it’s likely not the only issue. I had a similar problems last year and this year got much better results.

First thing with tomatoes is they don’t need much nitrogen. Use a balanced fertilizer, and I added a little extra phosphorus at planting and during fruiting, just to make me feel better. Avoid overwatering, it rinses the fertilizer out prematurely and makes it hard to keep up.

Leave the plants if you want, if they look healthy then there’s not much reason to pull them. Good chance something will get them between now and fall though, so be prepared if you want a shot at a fall crop.
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5285 posts
Posted on 7/9/19 at 8:01 pm to
Posted by EveryoneGetsATrophy
Member since Nov 2017
2907 posts
Posted on 7/10/19 at 6:19 pm to
If you are in S. La, chances are that what ever is still on the plant will be splitting with the rain.
Posted by DownSouthTiger
downsouth
Member since Jan 2005
2551 posts
Posted on 7/11/19 at 4:53 am to
The most common thing people do to hurt their crop is planting too late. I start the seeds 1st week of January and plant last week of Feb or 1st week of March.
Posted by NATidefan
Two hours North of Birmingham
Member since Dec 2008
36140 posts
Posted on 7/11/19 at 6:43 pm to
Yep, like others said you have to start growing from seed in January. My grandfather used to start his whole garden in the spare bathtub right after new years day.
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