Question
my first garden - transplants blooms falling off and the plants just not growing, most of the buds seem 'stalled'.

i have 2 gardens, one raised bed 12' with a load of sand from local company and added organic fertilizer granules as instructed and the other is my neighbors with prime dirt - fluffy, black with lots of sheep manuer and lime added from past years.  

we have had some cool nights in lower 50's and lovely mid 70s and mid 80s days since i transplanted 3 weeks ago.

water in mornings to keep soil moist throughout day, have good drainage.

thanks for  your time.  

Answer
Sherry, when blossoms or young fruit fall off prematurely, it is usually an indication of one of two problems. Either your plants are not being fully pollinated, or they are receiving too much water.

If you do not have enough bees in the area, you can hand-pollinate the flowers of most vegetables by taking a Q-tip or small paint brush and transferring the pollen from the male flower to the female (the female always has a small fruit on the end). This must be done within one day of the female flower blossoming. However, all you need to do with tomatoes is gently shake the plant every couple of days to improve pollination. To attract more bees, grow sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, or some other bright annual in the immediate area.

One other possibility is that you are over-fertilizing the plants. Many of today抯 water soluble fertilizers are very high in nitrogen. This results in lush foliage but often at the expense of a smaller harvest. Look for a fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium. Many companies now market products formulated especially for tomatoes.

In summary, remember to continue fertilizing with a low nitrogen fertilizer once every other week, and only supplement enough water to ensure a depth of 1.5?per week. Water only once or twice per week but very deeply. Shallow watering always results in poor root development and smaller harvests. Also, be sure to mulch heavily with straw or dried grass clippings around the plants to retain moisture, cool the soil, and to reduce the need for watering.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike