What Causes Empty Fruit Clusters in Tomatoes? Detailed Solutions
Autumn tomato hollowing occurs in different cultivation seasons, especially in the middle and late growth stages, and in autumn delayed tomato cultivation with continuous flowering, continuous fruiting, empty fruit clusters often occur. Generally after the first cluster sets fruit, the second and third clusters are very prone to empty fruit clusters, so what causes this? Let's take a look together with the editor.
1. Excessive leaf removal
Leaf removal is an important measure to promote tomato color change and increase ventilation and light penetration, but some vegetable growers often remove too many leaves. Although this improves ventilation and light penetration and reduces the possibility of disease occurrence, it also reduces the supply of organic nutrients. So after the first cluster of fruit is firmly set, the second and third clusters are very prone to empty fruit clusters. Therefore, leaf removal must be done appropriately; you only need to remove the lower old leaves and diseased leaves, and the other leaves do not need to be touched.
2. Leaving too many fruits
Fruit retention in tomatoes should be reasonable. Many vegetable growers, when retaining fruit on the first cluster, because they are afraid the plant will grow too vigorously, generally choose to keep 5-6 fruits to control vigorous growth. As a result, the first cluster consumes too many nutrients, while the second and third clusters lack nutrients and develop empty fruit clusters. Therefore, fruit retention should be reasonable. When retaining fruit on the first tomato cluster, it should be done according to the plant's growth condition; generally, keeping 3-4 fruits is enough to maintain a continuous nutrient supply.
3. Excessive vegetative growth of the plant
Because autumn delayed tomatoes experience higher temperatures in the early stage, especially nighttime temperatures that are difficult to control, excessive vegetative growth of the plant often occurs. When the first cluster sets fruit, the excessive vegetative growth is not obvious, so it does not affect flowering and fruit setting. But by the time the second and third clusters set fruit, the excessive vegetative growth is already difficult to control and requires consuming a large amount of nutrients, causing empty fruit clusters on the second and third clusters. Therefore, nighttime temperature should be controlled as much as possible to avoid excessive vegetative growth of the plant. When the plant grows excessively, properly controlling fertilizer and water can also inhibit its growth.
4. Untimely topdressing
Many vegetable growers have an inaccurate view of tomato topdressing, believing that tomatoes do not need topdressing before the first cluster of fruit turns red. This is a wrong idea. In fact, topdressing should be done in time when the first cluster of fruit has set and is about the size of a jujube, because at this stage the plant needs to consume a great deal of nutrients. If topdressing is not timely, after the first cluster of fruit expands, the second and third clusters are prone to empty fruit clusters.
The above is an introduction to the causes of empty fruit clusters in tomatoes and the solutions, hoping it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.