Tomato help

I have two varieties. One is the Heatwave. It is very hearty and strong. The blooms are beautiful, but I have had NO fruit from it. The other is Cherry tomatoes. I've been able to grow about 6 of them to maturity. They taste great, but that is all I see. I have hundreds of flowers on these plants. How can I get the tomatoes to grow fruit? I've tried gently shaking them periodically, but that doesn't seem to work.

Try Bonide Tomato and Blossom Set Spray

Growingup, part of the problem may be our increase in temps again... even Heatwave (which I've grown for the last couple of years) won't set fruit above maybe 90-95 degrees, and we've been over 100 again pretty consistently (but got rain today, hooray!). If the temps are too hot, the pollen is sterile, and the blooms just shrivel off and die. From what I understand, Blossom Set is to help when the temps are too cold for fruit set, but won't do anything when it's this hot.

This was a bad year for me with the red cherries also, had about the same luck you did with my Sweet 100's. I had one right next to a Yellow Pear which was going berzerk and making more tomatoes than we could keep up with, and the Sweet 100 did nada. Maybe a handful altogether, and they were all tiny and came in singly. No idea, but I eventually yanked it as not worth the space or water. I'm trying a different cherry variety next year, hoping for better luck.

So, I don't have a definitive answer, but I would recommend patience, and cool thoughts. I know just how you feel--I've got Mortgage Lifters that have been blooming their fool heads off all summer, and nary a tomato in sight. These puppies better be good when it cools off, to make up for all the waiting around they've caused me! :)

Good luck!

Jill that is so funny. I was wondering if it was the heat. I'm hoping too for cooler temps. Just praying for a come back! It is such a tease because the plants are so strong and they smell like tomatoes, but there are none. I'll just keep watering and waiting.

Anyone from Idaho. If so what type of tomatoes would you recommend to start with. I'm new here, in Idaho and on this site.
Thanks...Vixen

Welcome to Dave's Garden, Vixen! If you're new to tomatoes, I think the place I would start is with a good local nursery. See what varieties they carry, and that'll give you a head start by purchasing healthy, stocky plants. I'd stay away from the "Big Box" stores if you can--they tend to carry what sells well nationwide, not necessarily what produces well in your area. I don't know what zone you're in, but don't put the tomatoes out until after the last frost date in your area. I'm guessing that you have a fairly short season for growing things,so I would take a look at anything that has a "days to maturity" (or DTM) of less than about 75-80 days. Anything else might not produce for you before your temps cool down again.

If you decide to upgrade to a "Subscriber" membership here on DG, the Tomato forum has a wealth of advice, and many many many different suggestions of tomatoes for all different climates. I've learned tons and tons from those folks!

Anyway, good luck, and have fun!