Question
QUESTION: I live in Florida and am trying to grow vegetables in containers on my porch since growing them in the yard is not an option due to the wildlife (mainly rabbits) trying to eat them, but I seem to be having a problem with my tomatoes and peppers dropping the entire flower-head before they are able to produce fruit. Do you know what might be causing this and what I could do to prevent this? Do you think the colder than normal weather we have been having may be causing it or could it be a lack of certain nutrients? I am growing in top soil and have my plants in the recommended full sun and have been watering properly but have not used any fertilizer because I am trying not to add any chemicals to my garden. I want to keep the garden as organic as possible (no man-made fertilizers or pesticides).

ANSWER: Thomas:
Blossoms will fall from tomatoes and peppers if the nighttime temperatures fall below 50 degrees. Is that the case in your area? Nothing much you can do except wait for things to warm up. If the temperatures aren't too much below 50, you might try draping the plants with some row cloth, that will keep them a few degrees warmer.

Elyse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: First, thank you. Second, yes the temperatures here have been dipping into the high 30's, low 40's almost every night and we have been having unusually hig winds as well. I have been covering the plants but I think that with the temps being that low that covering the plants may just be keeping them alive but not allowing them to blossom. Should I take the plants in at night since they are in containers at least until this wierd weather is over or would the incandecent lights not be enough of the right kind of light for the plants?

Answer
Incandescent lights will not be enough light for the plants. Since they are doing OK, I'd leave them. You could bring them in at night if you wanted to, but if you do you should keep them in a cool (65 or less) spot. Without a greenhouse, it's pretty difficult to get tomatoes to produce out of season. They need warm days (but not too hot, either!) and nights to produce good tomatoes. Peppers need even more heat, though the plants are more frost-tolerant.

Elyse