Potted tomatoes too small and ripening too fast?

Question

THE FACTS: The 'pots' contain more than 30 gallons of soil. 2 plants per pot. Arkanasas Travellers. About 30 fruit growing thus far per pot. Direct Sun from 9am-8pm. Days have just gotten over 95 degrees. Light feeding once/week. Water every day before dark. Appear healthy.

THE PROB: some of the 2inch fruit has just started to ripen. These fruits are supposed to get big!

YOU: any ideas?

Answer 1

Water in the morning and feed before noon.

Answer 2

You should have stopped feeding once the plants started to set fruit.

Answer 3

If the fruit is ripe and taste good, what is the problem?  Tomatoes are ripening right now all over the USA!

Answer 4

you're getting too much direct sunlight.  The other answers are valid.  You should water in the morning to prevent fungal buildup.  Plants should get 8 AM - 2PM sun.... but no later that 3:30 in 90+ degree heat.  The sun and heat is what is ripening them.  The intense heat signals the plant that late august is approaching and that harvest time is near, so they ripen faster.  Here's what you do....put up a sun barrier made out of tulle (the mesh stuff used in weddings).  It's very cheap and will cut down the late afternoon sun by about 60% and keep your plants under 90 degrees.  Also, only water once every 3-4 days and feed only once per month.  Make sure the feed has low nitrogen content and high phosphorous content.  On the package, the first number is nitrogen, the second is phosphorous.  So a number like 5-30-20 would be good.