19
votes
Strange Fruit from Tomato Plant
That looks like a poorly pollinated cucumber (the type of distortion on the fruit is exactly what you'd see if pollination were uneven). Although I can't see any leaves, the stem looks like a cucumber ...
- 20.4k
16
votes
Accepted
Can a tomato plant break by its own weight?
Tomato plants need some kind of support (as you see, they are a sort of vine). Especially when they are fruiting, the stem cannot support the weight of the tomatoes.
It is normal to have the stem ...
- 14.7k
13
votes
Accepted
How should I repair a partially broken stem with lots of tomatoes?
That injury looks more like a "sprain" than a break. In other words, the stem is injured, but the tissue isn't completely severed. If you can immobilize it and provide additional support to keep the ...
- 3,639
13
votes
Are blossom end rot tomatoes edible?
Blossom end rot is a physiological disorder primarily caused by irregular or insufficient water supply, which disables calcium uptake. The fruits, or the bits that aren't affected, are not dangerous ...
- 135k
11
votes
Accepted
If I save seeds from sweet million cherry tomatoes will I get more sweet million tomatoes
Sweet Million are an F1 variety, so will not come true. Seeds saved from their first year may grow what are known as F2 types, which may be quite close to the original F1 Sweet Million, but any seed ...
- 135k
10
votes
Accepted
Plant recommendation for gift for kindergarten students
I recall doing something like this each spring (for several years) growing up, and the plant of choice was Marigolds (planted in a paper cup, as far as I recall) which were grown in class and then ...
- 25.7k
10
votes
What variety is this tomato with long, milky green branches?
I'm afraid with over 20k tomato breeds and striking similarities among many of them (with crosses possible), there's not enough information for others to know what kind of tomato this is. Even if it ...
- 18.5k
9
votes
Will applying twenty year old cow manure hurt my vegetable garden?
Unless harmful elements fell into your manure during those 20 years without your knowledge, it certainly shouldn't hurt anything. It might not be as potent as properly matured and composted manure, ...
- 321
9
votes
Plant recommendation for gift for kindergarten students
My two suggestions; Scarlet Runner Beans and the second is Carex testacea or Orange Sedge. Easy to grow, very pretty no matter its age, wonderful to tuck into any plant bed or pot, nice just left in ...
- 40.5k
8
votes
How do I ripen tomatoes?
Unless they're too immature, they will eventually turn red if you bring them in the house and wait. If you're planning to save seeds, though, people often say that the seeds cease to develop after you'...
- 18.5k
8
votes
What causes tomato plants to bear large fruit?
This is a very open question, and I like to see other answers.
As you wrote, variety is the main driver. Cold weather and dry soil could stop the growth of a tomato.
Position is also a determinant. ...
- 14.7k
8
votes
Plant recommendation for gift for kindergarten students
Have you considered something as simple as Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum)?
You can simply hand out a pack of seeds and a piece of cotton wool. The kids can then "plant" it themselves (really just ...
- 213
8
votes
Accepted
White insects on tomato plant?
This is scale or mealybug, they are insects that suck sap out of the plant. So yes they are harmful and it is better for your plant to get rid of them.
There are several ways to get rid of them (in ...
- 13.2k
8
votes
Safe water for tomatoes
It is perfectly safe. In fact it is also legal to use gray water to water your plants. Some houses are designed to do this. Gray water is water from kitchen and laundry and in some cases also from ...
- 2,913
7
votes
Will applying twenty year old cow manure hurt my vegetable garden?
Sounds like perfect stuff. You are going into winter, yes? If you are, just put it on top of the beds thickly. This will help keep the weed seeds already in the soil from germinating as well. In ...
- 40.5k
7
votes
Can a tomato plant break by its own weight?
Tomato plants can certainly break under weight. Some varieties are more prone to breaking than others (e.g. Early Girl F1); I'm not sure about San Marzano, although I've grown it without issues.
...
- 18.5k
7
votes
Are we going to be overwhelmed with tomatoes?
It's impossible to say if it is an accurate number. The number you actually get could be anything between 200 and zero, if you get hit by disease or whatever. Seed merchants usually quote the maximum ...
- 11.5k
6
votes
What causes tomato plants to bear large fruit?
While much good information has been provided, some is incorrect or partially correct. Tomatoes are primarily self pollinating, and not just to the extent of pollen being transferred between flowers. ...
- 61
6
votes
How should I repair a partially broken stem with lots of tomatoes?
This happens all the time with tomatoes. Get a stick with a Y formation, stick it in the ground with the Y holding up the tomatoes to a point that that bend is straight again. Most certainly will do ...
- 40.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Will tomatoes on the vine ripen without direct light?
Green tomatoes don't need light to ripen, they need ethylene and heat since they're a climacteric fruit. So, some people uproot the entire plant and hang it upside in the garage. Or, you could pick ...
- 23.4k
6
votes
Accepted
Which tomato cultivars feature wrinkles?
They call them ribbed tomatoes (you can also find ribbed cantaloupes/melons, eggplants and peppers). Some people use the word 'fluted'. There are a lot of tomatoes with some degree of ribbing. Some ...
- 18.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Would a tomato plant being shaded out cause smaller tomatoes?
My answer is based purely on my personal experience, in a garden where the beds march toward more and more afternoon shade, so I can clearly see the effect of shade when I plant a few beds in the same ...
- 206
6
votes
What’s growing on my tomato plant? This is crazy!
This is chocolate tube slime mold. I have never seen it grow on anything other than dead trees before. Your best course of action is to treat with a chlorothalonil fungicide since a copper sulfate ...
- 136
5
votes
What will produce the most tomatoes with multiple seedlings?
Normally in such a situation, if I were faced with this issue, I would split them.The fact is that tomatoes make roots very fast and given the right growing conditions would quickly recover from being ...
- 21.2k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the best way to pick tomatoes?
There is a "knuckle" on the short stem (the pedicel) between the tomato and the larger stem that holds all the flowers (the peduncle). When a tomato is ripe, it will break off easily by lifting the ...
- 7,229
5
votes
Huge tomato plants, but fruits stalled
Stormy is making some good points here but using g too many "man made" techniques could also be the problem.
I find that imitating nature has by far been the best option when gardening.
This is ...
- 1,202
5
votes
Accepted
Pruning "Dead" Indeterminate Tomato Plant
If you get frost in your region, I doubt your tomato plant will survive the winter to grow again in spring. That said, I have grown a 6ft tomato plant from a 3" section of stem with roots but no ...
- 1,092
5
votes
Tomato branches curling
I strongly suspect a major part of the problem is the pot and fabric method you've used for potting up. I note you have used straw or something on the tops of the pots for insulation/water retention ...
- 135k
5
votes
Tomato branches curling
With air pruning pots you need a lot more water. I'd put a moisture meter into the pots to see if you're watering them adequately. Or stick your finger deep into the pots. You might be better off ...
- 23.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible