I've kept an eye out for slugs and snails, but I haven't seen any in the greenhouse. The flowers appear ok. but then when the flowers die off, within a couple of days I am just left with the stalks. Kef, I haven't heard of blossom drop-what am I doing wrong then?? Or there is a chance I've got 'stealth snails'-in fact, I am going to go and have a look right now!!
Slugs and snails are sooo smart, they will even climb all the way up a greenhouse in order to drop down on a plant and avoid copper or eggshells etc... a bit like me with chips!
OK-I'm blaming the little critters for something they haven't done I think! Kef, some of the stalks are going yellow, and that is where the flowers are dropping off.What can I do to stop this if anything?
Linda if it is blossom drop I would give the flowers a little misting of water in the mornings, don't wet the leaves, just a fine mist, and whenever you go in GH give the stems with flowers on a little tap to see if that helps pollination.
I've read that dryness at the roots can cause this but don't want to suggest more watering as I honesty don't know.
Blossom drop is usually caused by changes of temperature, too hot or too cold. Do you shut the GH at night and ventilate it in the day. Other reasons are too much or too little watering and too much fertiliser. Also it can be lack of pollination. Tomatoes prefer a good soak every few days to little and often which can just wet the surface and not get down to the roots. Don't fertilise until bottom trusses have set.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Hadn't seen this thread as we were on our way back from hols when it was posted.
I'm quite keen on companion planting whether it works or not, because it looks pretty in my veggie garden! I plant nasturtiums around the broad beans, we eat the flowers in salads. Borage wherever there is room, it attracts the leaves and the flowers are pretty in ice cubes or Pimms. French Marigolds around the tomatoes, anti whitefly, also basil around the tomatoes -they go so well together. Coriander and dill all over the place because they seed themselves.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I must admit, I'm not really a Marigold fan and don't really like the smell but they do look pretty in my GH and give it a bit of colour, and they seem to be doing the trick as I have no a****s.......not saying the word in case I jinx myself and they suddenly appear!!
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I've kept an eye out for slugs and snails, but I haven't seen any in the greenhouse. The flowers appear ok. but then when the flowers die off, within a couple of days I am just left with the stalks. Kef, I haven't heard of blossom drop-what am I doing wrong then?? Or there is a chance I've got 'stealth snails'-in fact, I am going to go and have a look right now!!
OK-I'm blaming the little critters for something they haven't done I think! Kef, some of the stalks are going yellow, and that is where the flowers are dropping off.What can I do to stop this if anything?
Linda if it is blossom drop I would give the flowers a little misting of water in the mornings, don't wet the leaves, just a fine mist, and whenever you go in GH give the stems with flowers on a little tap to see if that helps pollination.
I've read that dryness at the roots can cause this but don't want to suggest more watering as I honesty don't know.
I agree with KEF - a little misting in the mornings, and a little tap and shake of the flowers - I think it's a pollination problem.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Blossom drop is usually caused by changes of temperature, too hot or too cold. Do you shut the GH at night and ventilate it in the day. Other reasons are too much or too little watering and too much fertiliser. Also it can be lack of pollination. Tomatoes prefer a good soak every few days to little and often which can just wet the surface and not get down to the roots. Don't fertilise until bottom trusses have set.
Hadn't seen this thread as we were on our way back from hols when it was posted.
I'm quite keen on companion planting whether it works or not, because it looks pretty in my veggie garden! I plant nasturtiums around the broad beans, we eat the flowers in salads. Borage wherever there is room, it attracts the leaves and the flowers are pretty in ice cubes or Pimms. French Marigolds around the tomatoes, anti whitefly, also basil around the tomatoes -they go so well together. Coriander and dill all over the place because they seed themselves.
I must admit, I'm not really a Marigold fan and don't really like the smell but they do look pretty in my GH and give it a bit of colour, and they seem to be doing the trick as I have no a****s.......not saying the word in case I jinx myself and they suddenly appear!!