It was suggested I post this here (originally posted on the DU Lounge)

[Disaffected]

What does one do with a single huge cherry tomato plant (indoors in a large pot in a south window) that is pretty much all stalks and leaves? It produces very few tomatoes and some of those are no larger than a small pea.

I have tried liquid tomato fertilizer (brown organic looking liquid) and lawn fertilizer but nothing seems to help.

Any help appreciated...!


I hope the cross posting is OK in this case.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

1. For what it's worth from a novice like me...

... who looked it up online.

They need lots of water and pruning of suckers.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-plant-suckers.htm

And supposedly, too much nitrogen and fertilizer can "spoil" the plant and make it less likely to reproduce (fruit).

[The Wielding Truth]

2. If you live in a summer climate plant it deep, way up the stem, outside. If not and get nothing til

October, throw any little ones in a good dirt area outside and wait til next year, and throw the plant out. Sorry.

[brokephibroke]

3. You have to pollinate the flowers

Either manually or take it outside.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I saw this post in the Lounge but just now noticed that the pot is indoors -

should have read it more closely. An indoor plant might not get enough sun, even if it's in a south window. And the larger problem is that the flowers won't be pollinated indoors unless you have some indoor bees.

[pansypoo53219]

5. my mom said the farmers at the market said it was a bad tomato year. but i would give it

but i would give it rain water. or too much water. are there blossoms? the leaves do not matter.

[Disaffected]

6. Thanks all for your help.

It would appear that tomatoes are self fertilizing but may still need assistance in moving the pollen from the male part of the blossom to the female via insects or shaking or similar. I did that at first but the results were inconclusive but I will try it again.

Still don't get though why a lot of the fruit that does appear does not get larger than a pea before it ripens.

[brokephibroke]

7. Too much nitrogen maybe

Check your fertilizer, make sure it is balanced....