We receive a lot of questions regarding tomato plants from our fellow green thumbs. One of the most common tomato problems is – why my tomatoes are flowering but there is no fruit?
One of the most common worries among new gardeners is a lack of fruit development. When healthy tomato plants shed their blossoms and fail to yield fruit, it is disappointing and surely not fair. We understand and tell you that you are not alone in this situation. In this comprehensive tutorial, we will discuss the challenges and provide solutions for harvesting the fruits of your tomato plants.
Whether your tomato plant has ceased bearing fruit or you have yet to harvest a tomato, the causes for the absence of fruit set are often foreseeable, simple to correct, and outlined below:
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Lack of pollination
Fruit development may be hampered by poor pollination. Pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the male portion of the flower called the stamen to the female portion called the stigma.
If you are growing your tomatoes in an enclosed area, open up doors and windows to allow air and pollinating insects around your plant. This will help keep your plants cooler and lessen disease risk.
Artificial pollination may be accomplished by softly shaking the tomato plant or using an electric toothbrush to replicate the bee’s buzz.
Weather also plays an important effect in plant pollination. The amount of bee activity reduces in cold, windy, and wet weather. As the weather returns to normal, pollination activity rises, resulting in an increase in tomato fruit output.
Hot temperatures
Tomato plants like moderate conditions but not scorching heat. Hot spells in the summer season can completely disrupt the pollination process. The best thing to help your plants survive the heat wave is to keep them watered and healthy. Consider cultivating heat-tolerant veggies in your garden instead.
Once the heat wave passes, your plants should be in excellent condition to ramp up the production of fruit. Tomato plants thrive at temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
When the weather is severe – either too hot or too cold – it is best to grow cherry tomatoes, which can produce fruit in a broader range of temperatures. There are different tomato varieties that you can grow for different weather conditions.
If you are in the hotter parts of India, try growing the ones that can tolerate the heat. Cherry tomatoes are among the tomato kinds that may be grown in hotter climes in India.
Too high/low humidity
The degree of humidity complicates the pollination process even further. It should be reasonable, neither too high or low. The ideal humidity range for tomato pollination is between 40-70%. Excessive humidity may block the pollen, while low humidity might cause the blooms to become dry, preventing pollen from sticking to the stigma.
If the humidity is too high, gently shaking the plant will aid in artificial pollination. On the other hand, in case of low humidity levels, you can regularly water the plant to keep it hydrated and improve its condition.
High levels of nitrogen in the soil
Another key thing to consider is the amount of fertility of your potting mixture. Excess nitrogen in your soil or the potting mixture will increase the growth of leafy foliage and reduce the formation of flowers. Tomatoes need nutrients to develop into big, delicious fruits. Avoid using synthetic fertilizers with high nitrogen concentration. Instead, utilize organic fertilizers that are high in potassium. Potassium in your soil will enhance blossom growth and hence fruit yield.
Insufficient sunlight
Fruiting might be hampered by a lack of appropriate sunshine. To develop blossoms and subsequently fruits, a fully established tomato plant needs six to eight hours of daily sunshine. Without enough sunshine, the tomato plant will grow lanky and spindly, with few or no fruits. The plant needs energy to make tomatoes, which it obtains from sunshine. Therefore, place your plant where it will receive enough sunlight to produce juicy and plumpy tomatoes.
Pests and diseases
Lastly, keep an eye out for pests and diseases. Fruit set decreases when your plants are afflicted by pests. Use natural insecticides, such as neem oil, to keep your plants healthy.
Now that you know all about growing great tomatoes, shop tomato seeds and growing supplies for a hearty harvest!
Once you have taken all the preventive measures, you will just have to wait and let mother nature work its magic. After the plant begins to produce tomatoes, you will have a steady supply of fresh sauces and meals.
