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Cucumbers dropping blooms, tomatoes doing the same
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22040		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  enrgizerbunny [ Jun 13th, '14, 02:37 ]
Post subject:  Cucumbers dropping blooms, tomatoes doing the same
Is this just a lack of pollination or a bigger issue? I have a 50 gallon grow bed, 3 tomato plants, 2 cucumber, 2 spinach(just sucking up nitrates, really) and a bell pepper plant that is producing peppers.

The plants aren't showing signs of yellowing or other deficiency as far as I can tell. I have 7 goldfish about 3-4" each being fed very often with peas to prevent constipation.

Oh, I add potassium carbonate and chelated iron weekly, probably about a teaspoon. pH is about 8. I have calcium carbonate (crushed coral) in the grow bed, I'm sure it has some other trace minerals in it.

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Author:  Samuel L Jackson [ Jun 13th, '14, 03:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Cucumbers dropping blooms, tomatoes doing the same
your pH is pretty high. Not sure if that has something to do with it. What are the ambient temperatures in your area this time of year?
Author:  Mr Damage [ Jun 13th, '14, 07:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Cucumbers dropping blooms, tomatoes doing the same
Stop adding the Potassium bicarbonate and the Iron, and if the crushed coral is easily removed from the GB, ie: it's in a bag etc, remove that also. None of these things should be added as a matter of course, rather only as required.

Your pH is high because of the Pot' bicarb and the crushed coral. A pH of 8.0 will definitely be locking out Iron, and probably starting to lock out a few other trace elements, such as Zinc, Copper and Manganese.

If you get the pH down into the low 7's your plant growth and health will improve, see example here, compare the two pics, which are taken one week apart after dropping the system pH from 8.0 down to 7.4 to combat Iron deficiency (the third pic is just of some frost, disregard it): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

Iron is very rarely added to an AP system and should definitely not be added just as a matter of course, high levels will be toxic to your plants.
Author:  scotty435 [ Jun 13th, '14, 08:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Cucumbers dropping blooms, tomatoes doing the same
All good suggestions. You should look at temp as Samuel suggested. Sometimes tomatoes will drop blooms because of warm or cool temps. Make sure the flowers are getting pollinated or they will drop as well. The plants still look pretty young and it's not uncommon for squash plants/cucumbers... to drop the first few blooms so they may yet come around without doing anything but I do think you should follow Mr D's suggestions because you are buffering your pH up and shouldn't be.

Hope this helps
Author:  earthbound [ Jun 13th, '14, 09:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Cucumbers dropping blooms, tomatoes doing the same
Yes, leave it alone....

Young plants should not be fruiting, their energy is going into plant growth, it's very normal for young plants to drop their flowers..
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