balck and green tomatoes

[begonia]

I planted green zebra and black prince tomatoes in Brooklyn, NY-- when do i harvest them? How do i know they are ripe?

Also, why do the tomato blossoms fall off? They are not growing tomatoes at all in one plant meanwhile my hybrids have about 8 fruits per plant.

Any ideas? thanks a bunch-- What a cool website!

[GreenZone]

Green zebra is ripe when the cream-colored stripes turn bright yellow. U might need to try a few until u get it right.

Typically tomatoes drop their blossoms without setting fruit if grown too warm. I dunno if that's the case in Brooklyn tho. Other environmental stresses also come to mind. See that u r watering enough but not too much. Otherwise, consider nutritional factors; try feeding something that contains trace elements: fish emulsion, kelp etc.

Hope this helps some. --Randel

[bunch]

You also can tell on both by the firmness of the tomatoe . As they ripen they will feel softer . compare the firmness to a ripened red tomatoe. german green is also a good green variety to try.

[begonia]

Thanks to Greenzone and Bunch!

[farmgirl]

Try fruit set spray as soon as the bloom opens.

[40lb farmer]

Green zebra is ripe when the cream-colored stripes turn bright yellow. U might need to try a few until u get it right.

Typically tomatoes drop their blossoms without setting fruit if grown too warm. I dunno if that's the case in Brooklyn tho. Other environmental stresses also come to mind. See that u r watering enough but not too much. Otherwise, consider nutritional factors; try feeding something that contains trace elements: fish emulsion, kelp etc.

Hope this helps some. --Randel

i added trace elements to my blacks (prince, tula, Cherokee) and it sterilized the plants almost immediately. i think the blacks are somewhat self involved interms of 'knowing' what buds will produce fruit and which won't. buds which have been polinated sometimes shift to another bud to produce fruit. some melons are capable of this as well.