Tomatoes Under Glass

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 10 (Supplement)

Tomatoes Under Glass

WATERING tomatoes under glass in the early part of the season, when low temperatures prevail, is an operation requiring great care. Tho demands of the plants are soon satisfied and an excess is soon noticeable in a yellowing of the leaves. Later on rnoro plentiful supplies will bo required, but it is an unwise policy to overdo the watering. Above all, avoid splashing water about in tho tomato house. A damp atmosphere will give rise to endless trouble. Particularly is this true when the firsic flower trusses have opened. Many home growers can easily provide the necessary heat to grow early tomatoes, but fail dismally in inducing tho plants to set fruit. It may be safely said, that in nine cases out of ten, this is entirely on account of maintaining too damp an atmosphere. Unless the air circulating in the house is moderately dry and buoyant, tho damp pollen will cling and. ball, instead of scattering. Even then it is advisable to aid the process, and, if the time can bo spared, to hand pollinate the first truss with something like a rabbit's tail. Alternatively, tho wires or stakes holding the plants can be sharply tapped every day, while tho fruit is setting. Feeding should not commence until tho fruits actually begin to swell, or it will in all probability encourage foliage growth, much of which will be at the expense of the fruits. There are times, however, when some deviation from accepted practice becomes necessary. In some houses at certain times, there seems to be a perfect epidemic of blossom falling without setting, no matter what the condition of tho air may be. When faced with this •rouble, give each, plant one teaspoon

Avoid a Damp Atmosphere

of nitrate of soda, just as tho first flower on the truss opens, and water it in. This will strengthen the joints between each flower and the stem, and the flowers will not fall. All lateral growths should bo rubbed out as they appear. To allow them to grow to any size is a sheer waste of tho energies of the plant. There need be no fear of accidentally removing fruit trusses by mistake when tho rubbing out is done at an early stage. Tho fruit trusses do not spring from tho axils of the leaves as do the lateral growths, and a little observation will soon enable one to distinguish between them.