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My sister was kind enough on my birthday and bought me a basket full of seeds with grow-planters (little plastic boxes to grow seeds in). It had a few herbs is in, but the main thing was tomatoes; beefsteak.
I've grew tomatoes in the past within my garden but they didn't take. My first time was sticking the seed in the ground and wait. Most died due to frost or just never came up. I learned about potting indoors but didn't know about pinching the tops, and again the second time around, they all died or didn't produce much at all.
This time around, I have a lot of seedlings started and need to know the proper timing on when to pinch the tops. Any help or advice would be wonderful.
I'm no expert, but have grown tomatoes and other vegetables for many years.
Tomatoes in particular need full sun; a ton of light every day. I can't imagine a tomato plant indoors getting sufficient light, except perhaps with a gro-light to supplement natural light.
I've had tomatoes come up "wild" from the seeds left over from previous years' crops as well as ones I've grown from seed or plantlings. I maybe pinch off the non-productive lower leaves but even so, a tomato plant with adequate light, soil and water is a fairly sturdy thing and will grow just fine without any pinching or pruning.
I'm no expert, but have grown tomatoes and other vegetables for many years.
Tomatoes in particular need full sun; a ton of light every day. I can't imagine a tomato plant indoors getting sufficient light, except perhaps with a gro-light to supplement natural light.
I've had tomatoes come up "wild" from the seeds left over from previous years' crops as well as ones I've grown from seed or plantlings. I maybe pinch off the non-productive lower leaves but even so, a tomato plant with adequate light, soil and water is a fairly sturdy thing and will grow just fine without any pinching or pruning.
oh thanks to the poster who said no pinching or pruning Im growing dwarf tomatoes inside with a grow light and I leave that on 12-14 hrs a day . You must provide plenty of water and feed them . I give plant food in water twice a month and water plain too ...
Tomatoes are pollinated by insects. If you could even get them to the point of flowering indoors, you would have to hand pollinate them, and also -- what was said above.
Tomatoes are pollinated by insects. If you could even get them to the point of flowering indoors, you would have to hand pollinate them, and also -- what was said above.
I'm sorry, TMG, I am going to disagree. I believe tomatoes are self-fertile. You should be able to get tomatoes from a single plant if there is enough wind, or if you shake the plant with your hand to ensure fertilization. how to hand pollenate tomatoes - Hydroponics Forum - GardenWeb
I'm sorry, TMG, I am going to disagree. I believe tomatoes are self-fertile. You should be able to get tomatoes from a single plant if there is enough wind, or if you shake the plant with your hand to ensure fertilization. how to hand pollenate tomatoes - Hydroponics Forum - GardenWeb
Self fertile? That's a new one.
Shaking the plant to disperse the pollen IS hand pollinating. I had to do it to some heirloom tomatoes a few years ago, and they were planted outdoors.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I have a greenhouse and my tomatoes get enough pollination from the breeze with the door and window open most of the summer. Real hand pollinating I do on the zucchini, in case the bees don't go in, and I have to use a small artists brush with soft bristles and go from male to female flowers.
On the tomatoes I remove the lower leaves as they start to yellow, but only pinch toward the end of the season when I know it's too late for any new blossoms to develop ripe fruit before the cold comes.
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