Tomatos lack of sun

just wondering what effect a lack of direct sunlight would have on tomatos.

were they are they only get about 4 hours a day of direct light. they are on a west faceing patio and its about the only
place i can put them .

the plants seem to be fine. the plants are big but are only producing a few flowers and of 6 plants
iv only got 3 tomatos off these plants that have been blooming since march.
I do got out and vibro poliniate the flowers with an old electric tooth brush that another site recomended
but except for the 3 none of them seem to get any were.

could lack of sun do that?

I was thinking puting a grow light the patio light and run it during the day when they are in the shadow of the building

They need a lot more Sun. at least 8 hours a day.

Where I live, coastal Georgia, people often plant tomatoes in the shade of trees or cover their tomatoes with a high hoop because the sun is scorching in the hottest part of the summer. Tomato plants stop producing around here when the summer is the hottest. I have tomatoes planted in the shade and they are doing great, loaded with blooms and fruit.

What did you put in the soil when you planted your tomatoes? I put some bone meal and epsom salts. An experienced gardener told me that's all I needed.

miledt- that was i was planing that they would do realy good OUT of the sun during the summer
i would just have to keep them watered.

they re in pots on a sw facing patio that gets about 4 hours a day of sun due to surrounding buildings.

i just bought a regular tomaoto centric fertilzer at the nursury.

I may try epsom salt i going shoping tomorow and can pick some up.

Got some epsom salts and bone meal how much should i use?

VVV the pots are that size. the big white ones.

EZB,
So the tomatoes are underneath the patio cover? That might be a factor. Four hours of sun directly ON the plant is different than a plant getting indirect bright light while sitting underneath a cover.

Also, how many plants are in each pot? And how big and deep are the pots?

Linda

I live on the ground floor of a 3 story apt building the patio faces to the west the apartment above me has a balcony that exactly matches my patio size.
. there is diect light from aboet 330pm to 7-7:30
3 toamto plants in 2 of the white pots the other has acorn squashes.
the long one has strawberrys.

I water them in the evening.



This message was edited Jun 12, 2011 6:43 PM

this is what it look like now( well 3 weeks ago the plants are much biger now )



This message was edited Jun 12, 2011 6:46 PM

Ok. We're getting somewhere. What TYPE of tomatoes are you growing? There may be too many plants in one pot. Generally, one plant per square foot (12"x12")

I have a huge oak tree that shades different parts of the garden at different times. The plants are not directly under the tree, but off to one side. The plants are in what I call "open shade" - they have bright direct sky above them, and grow very well.

I think the tomatoes, especially, appreciate the shadow cast by the oak tree during part of the day.

Gymgirl

there a 3 plants in each pot i started with only 2 but the squashs were not doing well in the long
planter. so i moved them.

do you think the plants are too to far along to move one from each to a new planter?

EZB,
That's kind of a hard call, depending on how much favorable growing weather is ahead for you. If you move them, it will take a minute for the tomato plant to settle in and acclimate to the move. I don't know how much more summer you have in Arlington, but we're entering into avg. 95+ days and our crop is slowly fading, although they're holding on better than ever due to our low humidity. We're still watering like crazy with no rainfall..

It might be worth it to separate them, if you can keep them happy through the rest of the summer. Then, if they make it and settle in after a couple weeks, they might just take off again once the cool temps of the fall blow on them.

I'm sorry I can't be more exacting here for you, but this gardening thing isn't always an exact science. We try things here and there -- some work -- some don't.

At this point, all I know for certain is that tomato vines are usually planted one per square foot. It's a judgement call from there...

Linda

Just as long/hot a summer in DFW as houston just not as humid.
I do have an option of taking them to a new location if i have too.

Cool!

I'm about to take some cuttings from my existing tomato vines, since they are so healthy still. I'll stick them down into some potting mix, and move them under my patio cover until they take root, to protect them from the direct rays.

I'll move them out into the sunshine between August 1st & 15th, where they'll grow into the cool of the fall, and, hopefully, give me a bounty for the Thanksgiving table!

Hugs!

Keep me posted on your progress.

Linda