Although I suspect you are more interested in what causes the gibberelic acid to cause the bolting…soil too loose, I am told by the sages of our allotments. After digging you may have to tamp your soil down or bolting may ensue.

There are a few possibilities depending on where they are being grown, i’ll let you know what it may be and see if you can tick any of these off your list.

1. Pests – check the underside of the leaves and up the stems for tiny green or black bugs (or aphids). Solution: Pick off or squish them or spray the plant with a mild solution of washing up liquid (only add a few drops) and water.
2. Temperature – depending on where they are standing – are they in an area likely to be susceptible to frost? or in an area with too much sun/heat? This may cause the foliage to flop. Solution: If frost is a problem, cover with horticulture fleece during frosty nights, if too much sun/heat, move them to a less sunny spot.
3. Moist Conditions – There is a disease called damping off, whereby a fungus lives off the moist soil and rots the seedlings at soil level. Solution: Sprinkle a light cover of vermiculite over the soil surface as it absorbs the moisture or put the seedlings out in the warm sunshine for a few hours to let the soil dry out a bit.
4. Soil – how many weeks have they been growing in the same soil? – tomatoes like to be potted on when they have grown at least two pairs of leaves so they can use the nutrients from the new soil and the space of a larger cell or pot to continue growing.

Hope this helps.

Thanks
Tracey

My tomato plants (Sweet Million) have started to go a bit floppy- as in the leaves. It’s happened almost over night. I was just wondering if you knew a possible cause of this? They have cane support, and I don’t believe I have over-watered them…..so I just don’t know whats wrong!

Cheers!

Cheers
Rekha