[shokkyy]

They've been planted out in a bed since May, have grown on well and are huge plants. They've produced loads and loads of flowers, but they just seem to be staying flowers forever and not turning into fruit. The tomatoes I've planted in pots and baskets (some the same varieties) on my patio all have fruit on them. So I guess this is down to warmth or ground conditions. They're in a raised bed, and did well in the next door, identical raised bed last year. They possibly have slightly less direct sunlight in this bed but on the other hand more shelter from any winds, etc. I feed those beds once a month with BFB. Not much point giving them tomato food if there's no fruit set on them.

Can anybody tell me the most likely cause of this? Anything I can do about it?

[Yorkie]

I would try the tomato food; it contains potash which stimulates flower growth.  I know it usually says don't start feeding until the first truss has set, but I'd give it a try.

I don't think they need the FBB every month.  There is the risk of too much nitrogen and leafy growth.

[shokkyy]

OK, I'll give that a try.

[AndyRVTR]

Have you tried 'misting' the flowers to get the fruit to set? 

[Willie_Eckerslike]

Have you tried 'misting' the flowers to get the fruit to set? 

That works for me. I keep a cheap 99p wilko trigger spray in the greenhouse so the water is the same temp as the plants.

[DD.]

Pollination doesn't seem to be the issue.

It's not as though the flowers are dropping off, they're just sittting there!

[whippersnapper]

Hi

I would say that it might not be anything that you are doing but the conditions this season. My tomato plants are much further behind from where they'd normally be this year... Like you say, very healthy and plenty of growth but not as many fruits. I have started feeding because there are some fruits and the feed should encourage more flowering. But for some reason I just think the weather hasn't been ideal for them - plus, you are close to me in Swindon as I'm in the Cotswolds.

[AndyRVTR]

Pollination doesn't seem to be the issue.

It's not as though the flowers are dropping off, they're just sittting there!

Though it may still help.... nothing ventured, nothing gained n' all that... 

[shokkyy]

Hi

I would say that it might not be anything that you are doing but the conditions this season. My tomato plants are much further behind from where they'd normally be this year... Like you say, very healthy and plenty of growth but not as many fruits. I have started feeding because there are some fruits and the feed should encourage more flowering. But for some reason I just think the weather hasn't been ideal for them - plus, you are close to me in Swindon as I'm in the Cotswolds.

Yes, that was my worry. If there's not even green tomatoes on them yet, I'm not optimistic that I'm going to get anything ripe from them at all. I don't think I'm going to get a single pepper from the outdoor plants either, they're way behind where they should be. My Gartenperle in baskets are cropping well, and some plants in pots on the patio have green tomatoes on them so I guess I'll get something from them. But I don't think I'm going to be making any passata this year

[compostqueen]

I've been growing toms for years with no problems but this year I've not eaten ONE single fruit. They are forming now but are still small and green, both indoors and out.

I think I will eventually get toms to eat but rather late in the day. I wouldn't give up on yours 

[Springlands]

We all need to hope for a good August and September to help those lazy tomatoes on. 

[viettaclark]

And pray to God, no blight yet. At least let some ripen!

[shokkyy]

That's why I always like to grow some little cherry toms in baskets every year - no matter how bad the weather, they'll always be ready before anything else. I've been eating those for about 3 weeks now.