![]() The final factor to consider is soil fertility. Not Enough Fertilizer (or the Wrong Type) In this instance regular watering may help to raise the humidity around the plants just enough to improve conditions. Very high humidity can clog the pollen, so it’s unable to drop, while in very dry climates flowers may become so parched that pollen fails to stick and simply rolls straight off. If you’re in a hot part of the world, grow a heat-tolerant variety that is recommended for your region.Īn added complication is humidity, or lack of it. In the meantime keep plants well watered and healthy, so that when temperatures finally subside they’ll be in an excellent position to ramp up production once more.ĭon’t forget that different tomato varieties are suited to different climates. The only thing you can do during a heat wave is bide your time. Turns out tomatoes like it hot – but not too hot! Hot spells, when daytime temperatures remain above 30✬ (86✯) and, crucially, nighttime temperatures fail to dip below 24✬ (75✯), have the undesirable effect of turning pollen sterile. In hotter climates, high temperatures can sometimes play havoc with pollination. Twang string-lines or canes supporting vining tomatoes, or lift and drop (gently, from a very short distance!) container tomatoes. You can artificially pollinate tomatoes by lightly shaking the plants yourself to mimic the bee’s buzz. Open up doors and vents, which will also help to create a good through-flow of air, keeping plants cooler and reducing the risk of disease. If you’re growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or polythene tunnel it may be worth considering whether pollinating insects have ready access to the plants. As they contract their flight muscles (a process called 'buzz pollination') these low vibrations literally shake the pollen free, allowing it to drop down onto the stigma – the female part of the flower that catches the pollen. Nevertheless, the presence of bees and/or wind dramatically improves pollination by nudging the flowers just enough to help dislodge the pollen from the stamens.īumblebees are especially good at this. Tomatoes are self-fertile, which means each flower can pollinate itself. The first thing to consider is how easy it might be for pollinating insects to reach your crops. So don’t despair – read on and see if your plants can be persuaded to behave. Whether you’re yet to pick a solitary tomato, or your plants have abruptly stopped producing, the reasons behind the lack of fruit are often predictable and easy enough to fix. It’s frustrating and it’s not fair, particularly given all the attention you’ve no doubt lavished on your plants to get them this far. ![]() A lack of fruit set – when flowers fail to produce fruits before they wither and drop – is one of the most common complaints among tomato growers. Are you picking plenty of tomatoes this season? If not, take heart in the fact you’re certainly not the only one.
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