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Cohutta GA

How do you know when to start counting days after pollination? The blossoms seem to hangout forever

6/11/2023 9:15:43 PM

Colorado

I usually start once I can see the baby tomato or go a day or two back. One of the megas I had last year took a week to pollinate. I hand pollinated it every day and eventually it took.

6/11/2023 9:34:19 PM

Grittyville, WA

I don't know everything about tomatoes but I'll give you my best guess:
The flower has stages, when the petals are canary yellow and pointimg strait out thats when the pollen drops. This would be DAP 0. This stage might last up to a week, but usually its 3 days or less. When the petals fade & droop down to more of a lamp shade shape, this is probably DAP 1.

But, on a large mega the petals may not have any room to droop down. In that case when the petals start to fade that would be DAP 1 and when they fully wilt that would be DAP 2-3. By DAP 3 it should be apparent you're on your way.
...DAP 3 or so, the petals may be loose enough to pull them off and see the little tomato.

6/12/2023 2:34:53 PM

Grittyville, WA

I had one this year like Scott's that was frozen in time for a whole week. I guess the plant wasn't sure if it wanted to switch to fruit mode. These super lethargic ones may or may not result in the best tomatoes?? Idk.

6/12/2023 2:39:15 PM

Grittyville, WA

If interested, this is the blossom that took a full week just to pollinate, maybe because the plant is in a mostly shaded spot.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=338611

6/12/2023 2:47:32 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

I almost always pollinate just one time and that is sufficient. On rare occasion I might do it 2 days in a row.

6/12/2023 5:49:04 PM

Cohutta GA

Thanks, I have 4 ultra megas that are taking forever. They are easily three times as large as anything I’ve ever had.

6/12/2023 7:43:08 PM