The affliction first showed up in the seedlings as they were maturing. Moisture on their leaves caused the plants to flop over (lazy plants). The cure was an anti-flopus overus device that assisted the plants and encouraged them to stand on their own 2? 4? 10? roots. Early support...Anti-Flopus Overus ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) As they inched toward maturity they were set out on their own to grow and prosper. Since it has not rained here during their brief tenure as 'field' plants, a sizable amount of water has not reached their growing leaves. Recently my wife wanted to water the plants......a cascade of water fell from the sky. Not my preferred method of watering the plants. The plants enjoyed the 'rain' for a few seconds till their stalks bent under the added weight. One by one they succumbed to the inevitable and crashed to the wet soil below. The plants were not happy campers. Juvenile anti-flopus overus devices were needed. Fortunitly such devices were in the garden tool-kit usually reserved for weak daylily stalks, they were now pressed into service to maintain the integrity of the fallen tomato plants. Juvenile Anti-Flopus Overus support ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) All is well for now as the crop trudges onward to adulthood...... there is however, a rumor about more support for plants with fruit but that is only a rumor and the prospect for fruit is a long way away. City Slicker Jerry
*runs out to see if Barb and Kerry's plants are lazy* Might need some an anti-flopus overus devices.... Barb in Pa.
Jerry you are a card!! Anti-flopus overus - I love it!! I only ever water my tomato plants directly into the soil which prevents them flopping too much. I do, however, have to tie mine up too to stop them succumbing to anti-flopus overus when they get taller. My plants have begun to flower so, here's hoping, I have lots of fruit in a few weeks.
Oh dear, Jerry. Please "brush" it's top leaves everyday back and forth gently and you will see it respond greatly to the love you are giving it. Watch how much it will puff out it's chest and stand up tall with all that love. Then when it gets much bigger and really needs the support give it a big stake to be tied to and that will keep it close to home, too. It won't run away.
Jerry, those tomato plants need to go to boot camp and develop some spine! Right now my tomato plants are considering doing their lay-down-and-die routine. I won't let them--by Jove, they will survive and thrive for a second harvest this fall!
Carolyn, I did that when the plants were very small, I did not know I had to do it as they grew taller. I will give them a gentile whack each day before watering. Jane, the plants stand inspection each morning and are expected to show progress every day. Flowers are the order of the day. Mart, Sun?? 56 trees later and you still can not see my house, the tomato plants, spread across the yard get from 2 - 6 hours of sun, in the fall, results will tell me where the best location is. I still can't figure how to get Frank's golden stake out of my back yard. http://www.gardenstew.com/member-map.php?u=10953#map-go Jerry
Jerry--Do you have any anti-chipmunk devises? I have a chipmunk that carts off any tomato fruit that get to be 1 1/2" across!
We have 4 chipmunks and 2 that visit. I have no idea if they like tomatoes. Not Good!! While I can test to see if they do like tomatoes, what happens if they, as a result of the test, develop a liking for tomatoes. Bad news!! Hello.....farm store?? I need some more chicken wire. Jerry
Jerry--I presently have two of my tomato plants in large pots on top of inverted pots on top of our patio table with all the patio chairs pulled back. I haven't had a chance to get to the big box store for chicken wire.... I couldn't believe a chipmunk was the culprit. I thought it was my imagination that my tomatoes were disappearing just as they got to a decent size. Then my daughter & I caught the chipmunk red handed (or red mouthed).
To repel chipmunks use moth ball flakes and dried blood. I had "not four" but hundreds along a rock wall. They were taking over the yard. They would even run up to us sitting out in the yard and chatter trying to make us go away. That's when I wagered war on them. I would set mouse traps one foot in front of me while sitting out and they would get trapped. They were eating everything. They were very bad guys. I sprinkled not moth balls but the flakes all over the wall. They were gone the next day. Now after 4 years I have about 4 like Jerry. Must go out and sprinkle again to things don't get out of control. Barb in Pa.
Jerry, the other thing you can do IF you have the soil and energy, is to pull/rake/mound the soil up higher on the stem making the stem "shorter" so it has more support. The higher you are able to pull the soil up the stem, the more roots the plant will develop. limiting the need for daily watering. Set a milk jug with a small hole punched in the bottom filled with water next to the plant to water it slowly, too.
Jerry, Carolyn's suggestion about the milk jug is a good one. Mart suggested that a jug be half-filled with manure, and when watering, water through the jug. It worked so well I can't find the jug hiding among the foliage. Use a large flag next to the jug--it prevents having to crawl around looking for the watering spot!
