Huge tomato plants and no flowers!

Question

Does anyone know the cause of my healthy looking tomato plants not producing flowers? I see no insects..water as needed  (they're in huge containers) and plenty of afternoon sun.

Victoriasnead · Answer

Last year mine didn't start showing until late August.

Patti · Answer

I had the same problem with tomato plants growing really big, and never getting any fruit for the past two years.  My plants get plenty of afternoon sun also.  I did a little research this spring and learned that you need to prune the suckers daily.  As your plant grows, new little leaves will sprout up between established leaves and the main plant, these are the suckers.  Just pinch or cut them off very close to the plant.  This will help direct the energy to the plant to produce fruit.  I have done this diligently this year.  I planted 4  tomato plants and 3 of them are producing tomatoes -- the 4th is  just a dud.  I have to prune almost daily, definitely after it rains.  I hope this helps.

Becky · Answer

Get a fertilizer made just for tomatoes, or go to one of your local nurseries.  I also trim my tomato foliage.

Colene Brewer Ritchie · Answer

They say not to fertilize until flowers set, otherwise you get big, healthy plants, but no fruit.

Laurie · Answer

Some types of tomatoes can't flower in the heat of summer.  Research the type of plant you have.  If this is the problem they will set tomatoes when the weather cools and you can plant a more heat tolerant variety next year.

Joan · Answer

Have you made a solution of water and Epsom salt?  One teaspoon to a gallon of water helps them blossom.  Good luck

Janet Pizaro · Answer

It sounds like your tomato plants are lacking magnesium and potassium. Try giving the some fertilizer making sure it is applied in the early morning.

Charly · Answer

I would venture to say that your tomato plants have pinched feet.  Your pots look too small, there's no room for the roots to spread.  I have four huge pots with a plant in each one and my plants are not so big but the amount of tomatoes on each plant is amazing.  I only use Miracle Grow every 10 days and I water every day.  I have been planting like this for the last 13 years and by the way, I don't remove any suckers or leaves.  I do hope my approach to gardening helps you out.  I also have pickling cukes, banana peppers, green bell peppers, romaine lettuce, red onions, garlic and they are all cared for the same way and they are all quite abundant.  You just have to find what works for you.  Gardening is just that.

Beve Falley · Answer

If the Epsom salt solution hasn't helped you can buy a setting solution at your local garden center.  I've used it in the past and usually only one spraying is needed. Once your tomatoes start blooming you won't need to spray again.

Mkaredmon · Answer

Temps above 75 degrees at night and/or higher than 95 degrees in the day can stop the budding process. Also, too much humidity can cause pollen to be sticky and not fall within the flower.

Sophia,M.,McConnery · Answer

I have never seen tomato plants with out flowers?

Nancy landers · Answer

The soil could have too much nitrogen

Alan · Answer

Usually it is caused by the soil being far too rich in Nitrogen which causes them to bolt with new growth and nothing else, also the stems look very thin which could be lack of water which won't help in small pots like that in hot weather they would require watering 3-4 times a day.
If I were you I would but some good old fashioned plastic buckets put some holes in the bottom then some drainage material like stones/gravel, then fill them 7/8ths full of plain potting mix without any fertilizer , when the plants start to set their first flower trusses then start fertilizing them and make sure you give them some Epson Salts once a week, that is how I grown mine in my Glasshouse, alternatively if you buy 40ltr bags of potting mix, just stab a lot of drainage holes on one side of the bag for drainage, then turn the bag over and cut 4 holes in it and plant your Tomatoes in it, but plenty of water is the main requirement, plus the normal fertilizer routine, this way is also excellent for growing Strawberries.

9530106 · Answer

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/tomato-plants-grow-tall-spindly-not-many-buds-56005.html As many have stated correctly!

Grandmasue10 · Answer

Mine were barren until this week 7/25/2016.  I did put some violet fertilizer in my watering can 2 weeks ago.  I think that gave them a kick start.  Ask at a nursery which fertilizer to use.

Nancy landers · Answer

If you contact your county extension agent he can give you tips. I heard ours give advise on this several years ago, but i can't remember what he said. I'm sorry i can't be any more help.

Alan · Answer

I think most of your problem I lack water I grow y tomatoes in a glasshouse and in buckets the same size as yours and on hot days I have to water twice a day, I good guide is the stems they should be a t least twice as thick as yours are showing, the leaves are reasonably healthy looking although should be a deep darker Green, I would try a decent feed for them and lots of water and they should correct themselves, as a general rule the main stem should be about as thick as your thumb, so lack of water stress would be my guess.

Alan · Answer

Hi Debbie, I just came across this on another post so have a read, but be warned there are far too many plants in this set up, and it will end up with problems setting the flowers and getting the fruit to ripen, plus the risk of mildews and other diseases is huge due to over crowding, but the plants in the photos at this stage are beautifully healthy! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/grow/vegetables/s-the-easiest-ways-to-grow-a-bumper-crop-of-tomatoes-16892721?page_num=2

Karen · Answer

I planted 5 plants that I grew from pips. They are all strong vigorous plants but three have flowers and some fruit but two have nothing. They almost look like different plants with slightly different leaves but they all came from the same tomato.

Kim |Exquisitely Unremarkable · Answer

I would try repotting them and adding more soil to the mix, giving them a larger lot of soil to draw upon. Definitely use a larger pot, like double the size. Stay away from enriched potting soils also, so if it is a high nitrogen issue, you're not adding to the problem.

Annie · Answer

Remove all the suckers that grow close to the main stem and be careful to not make the soil to rich. You want the plant to kind of stop growing and concentrate on what is already there, if that makes sense.

Too much nitrogen makes a plant put on lots of new growth, but you want the plant to basically stop growing so much and start fruiting instead,

Ann|The Apple Street Cottage · Answer

Tomatoes need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. Try moving them.

Chloe Crabtree · Answer

It sounds like they are not getting enough light. A lack of adequate light is one of the main reasons for non-blossoming, as the plants require anywhere from six to eight hours of full sun to produce blooms and then fruit. ... If the tomato plant has too little water, they may only produce a few flowers and then drop those flowers.

Maura White · Answer

You should see yellow flowers on your tomato plants at 5-7 weeks, and soon after that you should see some of those flowers turning into little green tomatoes. How long have these been planted?

Kaye · Answer

Im also having problems, every heirloom tomato I started from seed (Shumways) have not produced flowers, but I have 4 tomatoes that I bought that are flowing. All in a greenhouse, plenty of sun and water. A mixture of organic garden soils was used to build up height. Raised beds about 9 inches high. Im still hoping all my seedlings will flower, they are certainly big enough to flower.

I am you, · Answer

my tomato plant does a slightly better job, it produced lots of buds, but it would just drop off several days later by wind. I touched it and it would also drop easily.

I put it in a pot with balanced nutrition, water it normally, and sunlight at least 6 hours a day.

Huge tomato plants and no flowers!

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Huge tomato plants and no flowers!

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