# NO, I got no tomatoes !?!?!?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 1, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060 "2012-08-01T14:40:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/1 "2012-08-01T14:40:55Z")
Huh? When I lived in Chicago (many years ago), I planted tomatoes & they grew & produced LIKE WEEDS. Ditto hybrid morning glories. Now, I’m in midcoast Maine, 50 yards from shore. No drought here – in fact, it was such a wet spring that I was a bit late in planting the tomato & morning glory seedlings. Now I have reasonable-size plants. NO tomato blossoms whatsoever; only three or four purple morning glory blossoms, no Heavenly Blue(s). The nasturtiums flourished. Three (short but they should be TALL) sunflowers / 3 flowers NOW, the first of August. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG??? 😕 :eek: :mad: ☹ can anything be fixed at this late date? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Coustralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Coustralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coustralee)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/2 "2012-08-01T14:44:54Z")
The tomatoes may have it too good, maybe too much nitrogen in the soil. I’d put on some potassium sulphate to encourage flowering and avoid any fertilizing until you have small fruit going ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/3 "2012-08-01T15:01:54Z")
You might think of Chicago as grimy and urban but underneath the dirt is still part of Illinois, some of the most productive farmland in North America. Maine’s salty, rocky, sandy shoreline soil really doesn’t compare. I’m no expert but I highly doubt your soil is overfertilized, just based on where you are and the fact that your tomato plants are not unusually large, and your sunflowers are stunted. In the cases where I’ve had ok plants but no flowers, the soil was depleted. Another thoughts is that 50 yards from the shore it’s very possible your soil is really too salty for the tomatoes. I don’t think there’s much you can do for that, except plant in containers in the future. Tomatillos are salt tolerant, FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/4 "2012-08-01T17:40:21Z")
You can ask your local state cooperative extension: > **[Got questions about gardening in Maine? - Cooperative Extension: Garden and...](https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/ask/)** > > Ask the UMaine Extension gardening experts! With years of experience in home horticulture and commercial agriculture, our experts help beginning gardeners achieve successful harvests, encourage gardeners and commercial farmers to donate excess... Or see if Johnny’s can help (they’re inland but still should be up on Maine coastal conditions). There’s a phone number here too, and they can advise you on an optimal tomato variety for next season as well: > **[Welcome to the Grower's Library at Johnny's Selected Seeds](https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/growing-center.html)** > > Browse our extensive educational resources for growers of all experience levels. Videos, manuals, webinars, and articles from the research team at Johnny's Selected Seeds. ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/5 "2012-08-01T17:50:04Z")
Oh, and I forgot another very useful resource: GardenWeb has specific forums on Maine, New England, and vegetables (among many others): > **[Maine Gardening - GardenWeb](https://www.houzz.com/discussions/maine-gardening)** > > This forum is for those living in Maine to discuss the various aspects of gardening there. > **[New England Gardening Forum - GardenWeb](https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-england-gardening)** > > This forum is for those living in New England to share their experiences with other gardeners in the region. > **[Vegetable Gardening - GardenWeb](https://www.houzz.com/discussions/vegetable-gardening)** > > This forum is for the discussion of issues involved in the growing of vegetables--choosing varieties, methods of planting, maintaining plants, etc. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/6 "2012-08-01T17:55:08Z")
My dad had a garden in the mountains of New Mexico. He told me that you need warm nights to get tomatoes. Perhaps it is too cool at night. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/7 "2012-08-01T20:17:24Z")
You actually _ **PLANT** _ morning glories? And they don’t grow? Everyone on my street can ship you tons of them. They have spread like the Plague, crowding out everything in their path. They even climb telephone poles and hang down from the wires. And nothing can kill them that wouldn’t kill everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/8 "2012-08-01T20:43:42Z")
I’m having a related and odd problem. I have a number of tomato plants in my yard - some store bought seedlings, some started from seed and given to me as a friend. The store bought ones are producing fruits whereas the home started ones are big and healthy, but with no flowers. Friend who gave me the plants is also having this problem. Obviously the soil is ok or else I would not be getting any fruits at all… unfortunately the friend doesn’t recall the variety of tomato. You’d think by now we’d have something going on, but nada. This has never happened to me before, but then again I always buy seedlings from the nursery. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/9 "2012-08-01T21:44:47Z")
I planted tomatoes two summers ago. Only got three and they never ripened on the vine. One large one rotted before it ripened. I suspect the area got too much shade. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/10 "2012-08-01T22:12:40Z")
What are “reasonable-size” plants? By this time of year they should be several feet tall at least. Fruit may fail to form for various reasons including climatic conditions, but no flowers at all sounds bizarre. If you’ve been fertilizing frequently with a high-nitrogen product, lay off, as this promotes foliar growth at the expense of fruit. If you haven’t fertilized, use a soluble product labeled for tomatoes according to label directions. If your planting location lacks full sun, you’re probably screwed. If none of the above applies and the foliage otherwise looks healthy, the lack of flowers and fruit is one of life’s eternal mysteries. Unless you have a dog that likes sneaking out and eating the flowers. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/11 "2012-08-01T23:35:07Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > You actually _ **PLANT** _ morning glories? And they don’t grow? Everyone on my street can ship you tons of them. They have spread like the Plague, crowding out everything in their path. They even climb telephone poles and hang down from the wires. And nothing can kill them that wouldn’t kill everything else. Yeah! That’s what they did for me in ChiTown! & self-crossed, self-seeded, couldn’t kill em or get rid of 'em. AND 4 (count 'em) ONLY 4 flowers on 12 plants so far??? I cry for me. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/12 "2012-08-01T23:36:56Z")
I don’t know exactly what’s different, but when we lived in the Chicago-burbs, we always had a rather large garden, and always grew tomatoes. Beautiful, awesome, tasty tomatoes. Completely spoiled me, for the rest of my life, for anything but really GOOD tomatoes. We moved from there, my dad tried to perform the same magic elsewhere, and…nada. No luck. Maybe it’s the water. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/13 "2012-08-01T23:39:11Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > I’m having a related and odd problem. > > I have a number of tomato plants in my yard - some store bought seedlings, some started from seed and given to me as a friend. The store bought ones are producing fruits whereas the home started ones are big and healthy, but with no flowers. Friend who gave me the plants is also having this problem. > > Obviously the soil is ok or else I would not be getting any fruits at all… unfortunately the friend doesn’t recall the variety of tomato. You’d think by now we’d have something going on, but nada. This has never happened to me before, but then again I always buy seedlings from the nursery. Odd but maybe related question, that you probably can’t answer, but: Is it possible that the ones from home are all the same gender, or can’t cross-pollinate or something? It’s just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![Coustralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Coustralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coustralee)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/14 "2012-08-02T14:21:31Z")
in some conditions tomatoes will drop their flowers, or the pollen will burn off if it is too hot. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/15 "2012-08-02T18:52:58Z")
I can sympathize. Fortunately, I know just what killed mine. My tomatoes succumbed to the unholy combination of excessive heat, hail, deer and rabbits. I was so looking forward to a purple Cherokee tomato sandwich, too. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/16 "2012-08-02T19:05:59Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Odd but maybe related question, that you probably can’t answer, but: Is it possible that the ones from home are all the same gender, or can’t cross-pollinate or something? It’s just a thought. No, it’s not possible- tomato plants are not seperate genders, all their flowers contain both male and female parts- in fact, most varieties of tomatos don’t need any external assistance but maybe a slight breeze to fertilise, the flowers can all fertilise themselves, and for all but the wild and a few very old varieties, it’s actualy rare that they do cross pollinate even with lots of insects around. In modern varieties, the flowers are actually closed at the end so bees can’t even get in if they try. Handy if you want to save your own seed and don’t want crosses. Maybe the variety **Dr. Righteous** has is just a very late flowering one- they do exist. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/17 "2012-08-04T03:14:21Z")
When healthy plants won’t produce fruit, fertilize with lyme. Works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-got-no-tomatoes/630060/18 "2012-08-04T03:43:17Z")
Lime might be a good idea. Judging by the number of conifers in Maine I’d think the soil would be rather acidic and lime would help that.