Roma tomatoes stunted?

11 years ago

For the second year in a row the fruit on the tomato plants in our garden aren't maturing. This year we did Roma's but last year we did Early Girl's (which have always done well for us in years past), which leads me to believe it isn't the type of tomato that is at issue here. We live in central California, and have a hot/dry climate (most days from June through August are close to, or above, 100 degrees). Watering is seemingly unlikely to be the problem also, since we water everyday, and haven't changed our watering routine from the years that our tomato plants flourished. The only big difference I know of is that we went from planting in ground to containers. Could this be the culprit?

Any suggestions or thoughts would be very welcome! I only gave such detailed information because I wanted to help with responses, not at all because I feel I know it all

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Comments (3)

Lyndsey Carter
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer!
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
11 years ago
I think you are on to something with "the one thing that changed". If in doubt...check the power source (that would be the ground you planted in). If it is the one thing you can point to as a "change" then that is probably the the source of the problem.
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User
11 years ago
100° with containers means the containers are around 150. Too hot. They need cool feet, and won't set fruit when night time temps are above 80. You also have an issue with watering and keeping the soul evenly moist as evdenced by the blossom end rot. Containers really dry out and would need to absolutely huge so that he so the soil mass could be hydrated and cool enough to make tomatoes happy. Containers need 2x as much water as ones in the ground, because the heat dehydrates the soil. Look at soil mixes that include water holding gels, increase your watering, and fertilizing. Containers need to be fertilized 2x as often, at half strength because the additional watering will leach the nutrients out much faster. Maybe provide a bit of light filtering shade cloth for the hotter afternoon sun, and place the containers in a mulch bed, surrounding them with mulch to keep them cool and reduce watering needs.