I have tomato plants that have grown very tall and dense with fruit formed, but continuing to grow more greenery with blossoms. I'm wondering if some of the greenery (branches) should be cut back to allow the fruit to get more sun.
No, the fruit will want to be protected from the sun. You will notice that the best fruit grows within the tangled masses in the shade. You can take off any sucker branches from the bottom of the plant, or any branches that are not fruiting at all. These are a waste of nutrients. If you expose the fruit to too much light, then you may ruin them. Although the leaves need bright light, the fruit will not want to be exposed.
This collection of articles will give you all of the information that you could need on the subject of tomatoes: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato
And this article is another that will give you quite a bit of information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-tomatoes-guide.htm
As my tomatoes almost reach full size they crack from the stem down. I have been keeping the container pots very moist as I read that in the heat the skin become tuff if there is not enough water. They still crack. I plant them early and grown Arkansas Travelor, Celebrity and a German Queen. At my location on the High Desert of Ca the temp is mostly in the 100's by mid July. The cracking looks like the pics you seen on the web. Oh the German Queen cracks in a circular fashion. My potting soil is the Miracle Grow brand with fertilizer in it. Any ideas---------Thanks James
Tomatoes actually tend to crack if they get too much water, so that might be your problem. This article should tell you more:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-cracking.htm
I live in NE Texas.. Got them planted late.. Last week in April.. Started watering them early.. Using city water.. Water by hand using shower head and spraying water on the ground.. not using spray irrigation above ground.. However, temps in July were several days of 108 - 109.. On these days I watered twice a day and some days 3 times per day... When they bloomed for second go-round I sprayed Epson salt for set..... as I did first time... blooms wilted and basically zero tomatoes for about three weeks now.... Any chance they will produce again or is it over with for this season??
You may get some after the temperatures cool down. Even with watering, that temperature is way too high to set fruit. The only thing to do here will be to keep them healthy until the temperatures cool some. You may see some fruit still.
It will be best in the future to get the tomatoes out as soon as you can for the best harvest. This article will give you some good information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-tomatoes-guide.htm
This is my first garden. The soil is very rich almost black . I’ve kept all the weeds out and watered them when needed. What am I doing wrong?
Did you use a soil that has slow release nitrogen pellets or slow release in any form? This is the most common cause for this. You may have to supplement phosphorus and potassium to offset for the amount of nitrogen in the soil.
There are many "bloom boosters" on the market, and any will work as long as it does not have much nitrogen.
This article will help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-tomatoes-guide.htm
They are about and 1/8" to 1/4" in diameter and are very black
Can you include a photo? This can be a bit of an issue if it is the stem end. The bottom end is a different problem and very easy to correct. The top rotting can be many different things depending on how the damage appears.
If you can include a photo I will be able to better assist you.
what do I need to do to prevent the buds on my tomato plants from turning brown and dying. It is producing some tomatoes, but not as many as it could be if the buds flowered and produced baby tomatoes. I don't know how to upload a picture.
There are quite a few issues that can cause this. It is not likely a big issue since it is producing something. This article will help you to know what tomatoes need: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-tomatoes-guide.htm
Planted in sun/shade
That would be because of heat. If you live in an area that just got a heat spell than your blooms closed up in heat causing them to die.