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Tomato plants are a staple in many gardens, but what happens when they produce magnificent flowers but don’t bear fruit? Let’s discover together the possible reasons behind this mystery of nature.
The plants of pomodoro they may sometimes not produce fruit, despite having many flowers.
If your tomato plants are losing flowers without fruit forming, this article will help you identify the problem and provide some solutions for tomato plants that aren’t fruiting.
Causes of flower drop in tomatoes
Although tomatoes are one of the most popular home crops, they are remarkably sensitive to temperature variations, inadequate irrigation, incorrect fertilization and poor pollination. All of these factors can lead to a plant that flowers but does not produce fruit.
Ancient varieties are more prone to flower drop than modern cultivars. The latter have been selected to withstand higher temperatures and unfavorable growing conditions during prolonged periods of cold and rain.
Spacing
A factor that limits the fruiting of tomatoes is the incorrect spacing.
If tomato plants are planted too close together, they will produce less fruit and be more susceptible to disease. Tomato plants should be spaced 60 to 90 cm apart.
Insufficient light
Tomatoes need at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. In very hot regions, they can be grown in partial shade. In areas with average temperatures, tomatoes thrive with 12 to 16 hours of sun per day.
Tomatoes areneutral with respect to the day”, flower and fruit continuously in moderate temperatures. With insufficient daylight, abundant flowering may be reduced, but under such conditions they probably will not bloom at all.
Insufficient amount of water
Tomatoes require a lot of water: about 2.5 to 4 cm per week. This value may vary depending on climatic conditions.
The lack of water causes drought stress which leads to the interruption of flowering and absence of fruit.
Check the moisture of the soil with your finger, checking if it is dry at about 2.5 cm deep. Use a porous hose or drip irrigation to water at the base of the plant in the early morning.
Excess nitrogen
Nitrogen excessive can lead to lush leaf growth at the expense of flower production. Phosphorus and potassium are necessary for fruit production.
Performing a soil test every 3 years helps determine if the soil needs supplementing before planting and then again when the first fruit appears.
Extreme temperatures
If your tomato plants are healthy but losing their flowers, it could be a climate-related condition.
Tomatoes need warm temperatures: 18-21°C during the day and at least 13°C at night to bear fruit. Temperatures above 29°C can prevent flowering and fruit production.
Poor pollination
Climate can also influence pollination. Cold, windy or rainy conditions limit bee activity, which is essential for pollination.
Without pollinators, you will have few fruits. Hand pollination can help in adverse weather conditions.
- Always keep tomato plants well watered, fertilized and overall healthy.
- If heat is a problem in your area, plant heat-tolerant varieties the following year.
- Use shade fabric to protect plants during scorching afternoons.
- Encourage the presence of pollinators and/or pollinate manually.
