In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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June 7, 2007

Tomato troubles: watering and falling blossoms

Two questions seem to be on many folks’ minds: how much water do you give tomatoes, and why are blossoms falling off without setting fruit.

Most gardening books and experts recommend an inch of water a week. One gardening magazine editor says he accomplishes that by giving each tomato plant a gallon of water once a week.

But for us it isn’t that simple: Those gardeners are back east where summers are humid and rain is common. We’re basically in a desert. Our tomatoes are going to need more. The trick is to find the balanced between too much and not enough. I’m watering thoroughly three times a week. I’m soaking the soil beneath the tomatoes. I want to cut it back to twice a week soon. Too much water and you get lots of top growth, and maybe a lot of tomatoes, but they won’t be as flavorful as they would be if they had less water. One reader is trying to find that point where his tomatoes are a bit stressed from lack of water, but not adversely affected.

So much depends on your soil, hours of sun the plants get, and how big they are. Growing tomatoes is one of those things where you read everyone else’s opinion, then find your own way. I’ve made plenty of mistakes in gardening, but they’ve all made me a better gardener.

Tomato blossoms falling off: It’s the weather. Tomato blossoms are self-pollinating, so they have everything they need in one flower to make fruit. But they don’t set fruit when evening temperatures are below 55 degrees. I have plenty of flowering stems that are absolutely bare, and others that are full of fruit. It’s the vagaries of the weather. Once summer really sets in and the cool weather fades into oblivion, the tomatoes should set fruit. But, hey, nothing is for certain in the garden!

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