My tomato plants,sown early March, have been on my kitchen windowsill and have grown quickly because of the sunny weather we've had. I noticed today that some of them are already starting to form flower trusses (no flowers yet).Is this a sign of stress? Also, if I put them out in my cold greenhouse this weekend (with tempsforecast to drop) will they suffer even more of a "check" than if they were less developed?
Your toms are fine..just leave them were they are untill night temps improve..you could harden them off next week after the worst night temps have started to ease out..
the answer to why they forming flower trusses is simple they have 13 leaves. tomato plant form flower trusses every 13 leaves.
Quote from: plainleaf2 on May 01, 2010, 06:16:54
the answer to why they forming flower trusses is simple they have 13 leaves. tomato plant form flower trusses every 13 leaves.
Really? As I'm not sure what counts as one leaf, I can't check!
I got started early with my tomatoes this year and have several varieties flowering, Ailsa Craig, Gardeners Delight, Gartenperle, Roma......I moved them to the greenhouse yesterday and put some fleece and bubble wrap over them for the night. They seem fine so I shall continue wrapping at night for a couple of weeks.
I've just been to check that theory about leaf numbers and can't make it fit any way I count.....but I have fruit set on the Gartenperle!
I started some in February, ridiculously early as eventually they have to go outdoors. Several are in flower and fruit is set on a Japanese Black Trifele which has been outside on my patio for the past 10 days- quite sheltered and shall bubble wrap if we get really cold temps. But not counting my chickens tomatoes yet.
Marmande in the poly has a flower on :o ;D
Quote from: caroline7758 on May 01, 2010, 09:52:33
Really? As I'm not sure what counts as one leaf, I can't check!
A 'leaf' in botanical terms is the whole structure on a leaf stalk, no matter how many leaflets it's broken up into. It's easy to see on a deciduous tree in the autumn as the whole lot falls off in one piece.
Here's a pic of my Japanese Black Trifele.
I think Plainleaf is counting leaflets.
Mine too gave me a shock when I looked at them yesterday morning, so thank you for the reassurance.
Some of them are destined for a school fair in June but, as many of the "target audience" will be people growing for the first time, I think maybe flowers will appeal not put off! At least, I hope so.
Quote from: plainleaf2 on May 01, 2010, 06:16:54
the answer to why they forming flower trusses is simple they have 13 leaves. tomato plant form flower trusses every 13 leaves.
13 leaves?
You sure?????
Ours are the same. Shirley always flowers low down the stem
Robert_Brenchley the source of the info did not specify leaf or leaflets in case of tomatoes.
But alas my source can not clarify due to mortality issues.
I've just counted the leaves below the flowers on my Japanese BT, easier than most as its potato leaved ........ and the answer is.......13 :o