Why do the plants produce fruit that are too small?
While this is not as distressing as getting no fruit set, it can still be a serious problem. Fruit should be in the 8 to 10 ounce size for standard (beefsteak) greenhouse varieties. Possible causes include 1) poor pollination - be sure you are pollinating every other day if doing it by hand (those greenhouses using bumblebees should not have this problem, unless the bees are dead). If this is the cause, the seed count will be low. You can check this yourself by cutting the fruit transversely (left to right) and seeing if the locules are full of seeds or if seeds are scarce. 2) lack of water (wilting) can cut down on fruit development. 3) high temperature stress will limit fruit size. This is very common in the hot, humid southeast, especially in May and June. 4) shading during the cloudier months prevents full development of fruit. Be sure the greenhouse does not get shaded by large trees or tall buildings.
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There’s nothing more satisfying than homegrown tomatoes. You don’t have to be a gardening expert to grow delicious tomatoes in your backyard. Here are a few tips that will help you grow the best looking (and tasting) tomatoes out there:
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Produce growers, packers, industry suppliers and others can learn the requirements of the new federal Produce Safety Rule during one of three upcoming workshops around the state.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Greenhouse tomato growers and other interested individuals are invited to attend the 27th annual Mississippi Greenhouse Tomato Short Course March 7 and 8.
Experts with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and Auburn University will present the latest production information. Experienced growers and industry professionals from around the U.S. also will speak.
The short course will be at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center, located at 1500 Raymond Lake Road in Raymond.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Greenhouse tomato growers and other interested individuals can learn all aspects of production during the 25th annual Greenhouse Tomato Short Course March 3 and 4 in Raymond.
Experts from the tomato industry, the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and Auburn University will present the latest production information.
The workshop will be held at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center at 1500 Raymond Lake Road in Raymond.
JACKSON – Greenhouse tomato growers can learn everything from greenhouse design to budgeting during the 24th annual Mississippi Greenhouse Tomato Short Course March 4-5 in Raymond.
Experts from the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the University of Florida Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Auburn University and the tomato industry will present information to help current growers and those interested in starting a greenhouse tomato business.