[ex-cavator]

Help! Another newbie question - I've noticed some of the flowers dropping off the toms in my greenhouse previously, but after yesterday's very hot weather quite a few have dropped off, leaving bare stalks. As I've still got a couple of panes missing it doesn't get terrifically hot in there, so I'm guessing they're getting too dry?

I've given them an extra good watering this morning early, should I mist them as well during the day, or give them more water later (although I thought you shouldn't water in the full heat of the day), or is it something else that's wrong? 

[BabyStar]

Sounds like the problem we came across the other day. The flowers haven't been pollinated to turn into tomatoes so are dropping off instead. If they're in the greenhouse chances of bees getting in and doing their business are pretty low. You need to gently tap the plants so the pollen is released into the air, gets mixed up and pollinates the other flowers. It's also recommended to give them a gentle misting so they don't get too dry.

[DD.]

That is not quite correct.

Tomatoes, in the main, like peas are self fertile. The pollen does not need to be released into the air to pollinate other flowers.

However, I do agree in tapping the canes to release the pollen from the anther to the stigma within the same flower.

[DD.]

Here's what a reptutable organisation have to say to verify my last post:

Fruit set
 Tomato flowers self-pollinate readily. However, indoor plants benefit from being gently shaken to dislodge the pollen. Misting flowers with water can help fruit set.

 

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=315

[BabyStar]

I was half right then 
Thanks for the correction, hubby might feel a bit more positive about the tapping knowing the pollen hasn't got as far to go now!

[gobs]

Drought, dry air. Commonly happens in the GH.

Mist as DD says and water the floor every now and then.

NB, I think, old fashioned, potato leaf types need to be pollinated.

[ex-cavator]

Thanks, peeps. I've been tapping them, but I'll mist them as well from now on