[tomato] Re:Tomato Fruit Set & Cold Weather
Poris@aol.com (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Thu, 22 Apr 1999 11:34:45 EDT
Bill wrote:
It is my understanding that tomato flowers will not set fruit if the
temperature drops below @ 50 degrees F. Have several questions.
First, is this accurate? Second, if yes, is there a minimum period of
time they need to below 50 before the blossoms are damaged, or is it
if it occurs for any period of time. Finally, does all this apply to
Stupice tomatoes which supposedly do well in cool weather.
Bill,
I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains of N. CA USA. My night temperatures go
down into the lower 40's (F) in April and May and into the upper 40's (F)
through the beginning of June. I start my early tomatoes indoors in February
and plant them outdoors at the beginning of April. Two weeks later, I start
the rest of my species. I am getting better at growing seedlings and believe
that 6 weeks after sprouting is the optimum time to transplant. My daytime
temps can be as high as 80F as early as April and May. I have gotten
tomatoes as early as the end of April (20 miles from here, within 200 yards
of the Pacific Ocean) with just the use of wall of waters outdoors (maybe a
5F improvement?). Most years, I get tomatoes by Memorial Day. Maybe the
fraction of time spent above the critical low temperature during daylight
hours (whatever it may be) is an important variable. Most years I also have
a low chance of rain during the first part of my growing season, but often
have night fog. I do have better luck with certain species. Kotlas and
Stupice are my standard early tomatoes. I have been experimenting with
Sasha's Altai and Galena. Last year was a disaster due to El Nino and I did
not learn much about these species. Most of the cherry tomatoes will also
set fruit early for me as well (sweet 100 variations, red currant, golden
pearl and Sun Gold). I guess genetics is the predominant factor on how early
the plant will flower, but it seems that for my situation, if it flowers, it
sets fruit. Oh yeah, I plant all my tomatoes in 3 inch deep perlite
hydroponic beds and feed it a standard hydroponic nutrient formulation.
Jaime (in the Santa Cruz Mountains of N. CA USA)