Tomato beef steak flowering but not fruiting. (forum)

au0rey starts with ...
Hi...I have a huge tomato beef steak bush but the flowers it bore withered and dropped off and I havent seen a single fruit developed even though it is already more than 1m tall...

My three small tomato silvery fir plants are already fruiting...

It is so puzzling since I understand that tomato plants are usually wind-pollinated though bees are good to have around...

Is there such a thing as STERILE tomato plant???
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Time: 28th November 2009 4:15pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Tomatoes don't usually set fruit at temperatures over 30C. Melbourne has had some hot days lately. Some sulphate of potash sprinkled around the plant will intiate more flowers. Don't use any extra fertilizer either as it will encourage leaves instead of blooms. Commercial growers tend to use gentle shaking to pollinate tomatoes as bees aren't really attracted to the flowers. Something like a tuning fork would be a good option, enough to dislodge the pollen onto the stigma.

Time: 28th November 2009 4:31pm

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Wayne says...
I agree with Phil about the sulphate of potash, I would also give them a spray with condies crystals [potassium permanganate] mixed in water until it is dark pink and don't forget the wetting agent. That could shock them in to fruiting, do it once a week

The temp. could have something to do with it for sure although my toms are fruiting OK and our temp. is up around 35c. Mind you these are just 3rd generation rounds not beef steak which possibly don't like the heat.

I think that bush needs to do a bit more growing yet before it sets fruit, give it another couple of weeks

Time: 28th November 2009 4:40pm

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Jason says...
For my 2 cents. I have tomato plants around 5 ft in pots at present.

In patio shade they were growing like crazy and producing 2 of 3 sets of flowers. None of the flowers set fruit.

Moved them into full sun and a lot more flowers and fruit coming on like crazy now.

(were given potash in shade and sun, didnt seem to be the deciding factor in my case)

Time: 28th November 2009 5:15pm

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Wayne says...
Jason, your plants were growing looking for light when they were in the shade, that is why the fruit didn't set.

Time: 28th November 2009 7:32pm

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Julie says...
Phil, I don't own a tuning fork (who does?) but I do have an electric toothbrush, which will do the same thing!

Time: 28th November 2009 9:42pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
heheh - great idea, yes have seen the professionals use a similar method to get fruit to set in the glasshouse with no insect activity.

Time: 28th November 2009 10:16pm

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au0rey says...
Thanks everyone! I have been feeding seasol to the bush and I thought that has potassium for flower production...the bush did have clusters though not a lot compared to the masses of leaves. I have gave composted rooster manure plus tomato food during planting. It gets a good amt of sun..I mean it has grown into a huge bush (pic was taken a few weeks ago). I tried jiggling the branches to get the pollen moving.

Just wondering if there is such thing as being ready? The nursery guy at bunnings told me that if the bush is not ready, the flowers will just wither so I just have to be patient...just feeling puzzled since the tomato silvery fir are producing fruits.

Will run to bunnings for some sulpate of potash...

Thank you!

Time: 29th November 2009 8:10am

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
ok - no more chook poo in the meantime!
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Time: 29th November 2009 9:11am

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Wayne says...
"The nursery guy at bunnings told me that if the bush is not ready, the flowers will just wither so I just have to be patient...just feeling puzzled since the tomato silvery fir are producing fruits."

Two different types of tomatoes au0rey


Time: 29th November 2009 2:06pm

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Julier says...
I agree with Phil - possibly too much nitrogen, which helps grow lots of leaves at the expense of fruit.

Time: 29th November 2009 3:27pm

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au0rey says...
Oh i thought all tomatoes shd behave the same haha...thanks again!

Time: 29th November 2009 8:03pm

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