What causes dramatic different sized tomatoes on same plant

socalgardengal · July 10, 2013

I have a Pomodoro Ingeglio Gigante Liscio plant that has had tomatoes the size of my fist and then a few that have been around 3 inches or so when fully ripe. What causes the dramatic difference on the same plant? Thank you

cythaenopsis · July 10, 2013

It's probably just random chance, the growing conditions at various times when the tomato was needing more nutrients. If it is competing with other plant resources, it could end up smaller than the others. It's also possible that the location of the tomato on the plant could have an influence. Or... it may just be the luck of fertilization--maybe the ovary didn't get enough pollen to grow a tomato fully.

PaulF · July 10, 2013

My guess would be mostly weather: daytime temps, nighttime temps, water (from the sky or a hose), sunshine, humidity or maybe just the way you bite your tongue at any given time of the day.

tomatoguy · July 12, 2013

I believe this is also a trait that is more prominent, in certain varieties. Stupice, for example, seems to produce tomatoes of variable size and shape.

mater

travis · July 12, 2013

Fate, destiny, or in the last resort, genetics.

Redbaron · July 12, 2013

What you guys are all hinting at is that this is caused by a complex combination of genotype and environmental factors, basically phenotype.

What I think the OP wants is to know what exactly are those environmental factors. Personally the only ones I can think of are the % seeds that were pollinated in the flower, and the number of set fruit on each inflorescence. There probably are more factors though.

socalgardengal · July 12, 2013

Thanks for the answers. I just wanted to know if it's caused by anything I'm doing or not doing so I could make changes but it seems like it's just nature. They all taste great just the same though

NarnianGarden · July 12, 2013

I'm having the same phenomenon. Earlier fruits are so tiny, the 'latter bloomers' are growing rapidly. My first flower were pollinated weeks ago, but they are not growing - so little!

It's probably just all the external factors combined, since there is nothing I have changed in my regimen...

tjg911 · July 13, 2013

iirc hybrids are more uniform but other than sun gold i haven't grown any hybrid for several years and other than big beef perhaps 15 years or longer. on the op plants i see this size difference and it is more pronounced with certain varieties than others. it isn't anything you are doing.

tom

July 10, 2013	#1
socalgardengal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 462	What causes dramatic different sized tomatoes on same plant I have a Pomodoro Ingeglio Gigante Liscio plant that has had tomatoes the size of my fist and then a few that have been around 3 inches or so when fully ripe. What causes the dramatic difference on the same plant? Thank you

July 10, 2013	#2
cythaenopsis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Hoboken, NJ USA Posts: 347	It's probably just random chance, the growing conditions at various times when the tomato was needing more nutrients. If it is competing with other plant resources, it could end up smaller than the others. It's also possible that the location of the tomato on the plant could have an influence. Or... it may just be the luck of fertilization--maybe the ovary didn't get enough pollen to grow a tomato fully. __________________ I'm GardeningAloft.blogspot.com (container growing apartment dweller)

July 10, 2013	#3
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,284	My guess would be mostly weather: daytime temps, nighttime temps, water (from the sky or a hose), sunshine, humidity or maybe just the way you bite your tongue at any given time of the day. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

July 12, 2013	#6
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	What you guys are all hinting at is that this is caused by a complex combination of genotype and environmental factors, basically phenotype. What I think the OP wants is to know what exactly are those environmental factors. Personally the only ones I can think of are the % seeds that were pollinated in the flower, and the number of set fruit on each inflorescence. There probably are more factors though. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

July 13, 2013	#9
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	iirc hybrids are more uniform but other than sun gold i haven't grown any hybrid for several years and other than big beef perhaps 15 years or longer. on the op plants i see this size difference and it is more pronounced with certain varieties than others. it isn't anything you are doing. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

July 12, 2013	#4
tomatoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rockvale, TN Zone 7A Posts: 526	I believe this is also a trait that is more prominent, in certain varieties. Stupice, for example, seems to produce tomatoes of variable size and shape. mater

July 12, 2013	#5
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	Fate, destiny, or in the last resort, genetics.

July 12, 2013	#8
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	I'm having the same phenomenon. Earlier fruits are so tiny, the 'latter bloomers' are growing rapidly. My first flower were pollinated weeks ago, but they are not growing - so little! It's probably just all the external factors combined, since there is nothing I have changed in my regimen...