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Tomato plant - flowers falling, leaves look a bit tired

shoktichaishoktichai Posts: 25
in Problem solving
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

I've planted this cherry tomato in a big pot, indoors. It gets lots of strong morning to afternoon sun. 

Problem: 
1. Flowers are drying up and falling off - not sure why. I water enough, the soil is John Innes No 3. I haven't been fertilising as I am waiting for the fruiting to start.

2. The leaves look a bit shrivelled - again, I'm not sure why.

Any ideas? Pictures attached. 


«13

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Are the flowers getting pollinated?  Outside (or on a greenhouse that has doors/vents open) insects will do the job, but if it's in the house they might not be able to get in.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • shoktichaishoktichai Posts: 25
    JennyJ said:
    Are the flowers getting pollinated?  Outside (or on a greenhouse that has doors/vents open) insects will do the job, but if it's in the house they might not be able to get in.
    Yes, I've been 'tickling' them to pollinate them. 
  • shoktichaishoktichai Posts: 25
    pansyface said:
    It all looks fine to me.

    The curly leaves are caused by fluctuations in the temperature between night and day. Nothing to worry about.

    The flowers look OK. Are you dusting them with a small watercolour-type paintbrush to help spread the pollen from flower to flower? The ones that have fallen off haven’t been pollinated. Just give them a little tickle with a small brush every day.
    I've been shaking the branches to help the flowers self pollinate - haven't tried using a brush. There don't appear to be any loose pollen to catch with a brush in these tomato flowers?

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    If you have an electric toothbrush, holding the handle of that against the stem for just a few seconds will get the pollen moving.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ColinAColinA Posts: 392
    overhead spray with tepid water also helps
  • dannyandshazdannyandshaz Posts: 36
    Hi
    two things one the plants got no support, its just hanging and you have to much growth on the plant, try removing between the fruiting stems
    you can see little leaf growth starting and this growth isnt needed,
    The plants trying to hard to keep going without any help,
    I use mist spray and turn the plant every few days so it gets a good share all round of the natural light,
    Has the compost had any feed ?
    GOOGLE TOMATO CARE
    and you'll see you've to much foliadge
  • shoktichaishoktichai Posts: 25
    dannyandshaz said:
    Hi
    two things one the plants got no support, its just hanging and you have to much growth on the plant, try removing between the fruiting stems
    you can see little leaf growth starting and this growth isnt needed,
    The plants trying to hard to keep going without any help,
    I use mist spray and turn the plant every few days so it gets a good share all round of the natural light,
    Has the compost had any feed ?
    GOOGLE TOMATO CARE
    and you'll see you've to much foliadge
    how do I stake the plant in the pot without damaging the root structure? 
  • shoktichaishoktichai Posts: 25
    Pete.8 said:
    If you have an electric toothbrush, holding the handle of that against the stem for just a few seconds will get the pollen moving.
    Yes thanks - I've been using a vibrating Gilette handle
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    shoktichai said:
    Pete.8 said:
    If you have an electric toothbrush, holding the handle of that against the stem for just a few seconds will get the pollen moving.
    Yes thanks - I've been using a vibrating Gilette handle
    I'm sure it'll enjoy that - I daren't say anymore as I think @pansyface may have mixed something into her cornflakes this morning  :D


    Do you know what variety it is?
    Some should be given support (cordons) others can be left to their own devices (bush)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    If it’s a bush type it hasn’t got too much green in it, I grow Roma, you don’t cut any green off those. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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