Allotments 4 All

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?

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

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

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  :-\ :)

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

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.

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

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

 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  ..

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

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

Thanks for that Tim. Misting at noon sounds good.