This summer the tomatoes are producing a fraction of what they normally do. Two of them are the same variety, I'm using the same compost/organic fertilizer, watering the same amount, everything's the same. The weather is good, mid 80's, not too hot or cold. But after a short period of setting fruit, now all the flowers are dropping off. Usually I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with, and freeze and give away lots of them. This year we won't have any more to eat after this week! Help! What's going on? Does anybody else in my are have this problem?

What about liming considerations?

Are you using any limestone, dolomtitic limestone, sulfur, epsom salts, gypsum products, that make sense with your soil pH needs?

All plants need some reasonable amounts of calcium, sulfur, and magnesium for better plant health and fruit production.

Even if your soil pH is between 6.0 and 7.0, continuous composting and/or green manuring will buffer soil pH near crops' roots zone.

Happy Gardening!

When i first put the tomatoes in ground, i usually throw a handful of dolimitic limestone by each plant,
and the next year i move the tomatoes over 10 feet from previous location to get away from
any disease or insects that attack tomatoes.

I move crops around from year to year, the ph is good, the organic fertilizer I buy has the ingredients mentioned. The area got about 4" of homemade compost before planting and another heavy dose about 2 weeks ago. We can't use epsom salts here because our imported water is already somewhat salty.

Thanks for the suggestions, but need more ideas!

Jennifer, oh, doesn't it drive you crazy when tomatoes get paid all that attention and don't perform?

You were trying some heirloom varieties from Laurel's? Are those the ones that are not doing so well? I've had real trouble with some heirlooms, for me they can be a hedge of greenery and no fruit.

Are your tried and true varieties also not doing so well? How about the cherries?

I guess we always have to blame our cool nights and the temperature differentiation. My tomatoes that are in the greenhouse where it gets up to at least 95 every day are doing the best. I keep telling them they are in Sacramento, ha!

You added compost two weeks ago. Was it completely composted. If not, it may be using nitrogen and causing blossom drop. Rodale's Garden Problem Solver mentions corn earworms destroying blossoms. In addition it mentions blossom drop as an "environmental disease", whatever that means. It recomends one application of seaweed extract. Couldn't hurt.

Two heirlooms (Paul Robeson, Big Rainbow) and 2 newer paste (Health Kick). The only new tomato is the Robeson. Last year HK and BR produced splendidly. And yes, the compost is completely finished. Also, why would the blossoms set for awhile and then stop?

Woe is me!!!

I usually don't do tomatoes well, but strangely enough, this year I did the same as always, and lo and behold I have a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. We have had good rains, not too much, not too little, that could have helped me out I guess. Sometimes it just happens. Although what's really weird is I always have tons of okra and my okra has done nothing this year. Go figure.

Have you tried manually pollenizing your flowers by tickling them (usually in the morning it seems most are open), or some people suggest shaking the whole bush. If that doesn't set your fruit, it seems like it must be temperature swings that are the culprit.

Hi Jen,

Did you grow your own plants from seed?

I like my "Bush Beefsteak"
but, I'm and having too much luck on seeds
from this plant.
So, I'm rooting a sucker from this plant,
in water.
The roots are now showing, so I'll be able to
plant it in soil.

I bought the tomato plants from a reputable organic grower for the second year. Last year there was a bumper crop.

There are a gazillion bees. And a while ago most of the flowers were setting. At this point the flowers are mostly dying even before opening.

Last week I put on some more compost, and today I fertilized again. If that doesn't work then I give up!

Jennifer, I didn't mean that the grower did anything. I just meant that sometimes the heirlooms are so fussy, that's the problem.

Although, I usually stress out my tomatoes. Maybe you are being too good to them, too much fertilizer, and just enough extra nitrogen to make them switch to leaf production, instead of flower production.

For me in July there are always a couple of chilly nights, and those cause flower drop for me, but I don't think you have gone below 50 in the last few weeks?

I feel for you, Jen, as last year I had a terrible year with tomatoes, due to heat. What's bad about your problem is that it is nothing obvious. I can tell you that Robeson and Health kick produced almost nothing to me, in years others did great right next to them, according to my notes. But HK did great for you, so you just never know...the reason I have 11 varieties this year!

Good luck, and I hope they change soon for you.

Dave

The temps have been fine, low to mid 80's during the day, low 60's at night. There is flower production but they either don't open or else fall off after opening. Today I fertilized for the second time. It may be too late now anyway.