Causes of and Preventive Measures for Tomato Flower and Fruit Drop
Tomato flower and fruit drop is a common physiological disorder that severely affects tomato yield and quality, causing great economic losses to farmers. So what causes tomato flower and fruit drop? And how should it be prevented and controlled? Let's take a look.
1. Abnormal temperature
During the flowering and fruiting period, both excessively high and excessively low temperatures affect the development of the floral organs, thereby causing flower and fruit drop. According to data, when the daytime temperature for tomatoes is higher than 35 degrees, flower drop occurs, and when the nighttime temperature is lower than 15 degrees or higher than 22 degrees, flower and fruit drop also occurs. Therefore, during the fruit-setting period, pay attention to temperature: keep it at around 28 degrees during the day, not exceeding 34 degrees, and control it at around 20 degrees at night, not exceeding 20 degrees. During the high-temperature period in summer, spray fruit-setting hormone to preserve flowers and fruits, but pay attention to the concentration, and do not apply the solution to tender leaves or tender stems to avoid toxicity.
2. Excessive vegetative growth
In summer, under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, as long as fertility is sufficient, plants easily grow excessively, ultimately causing flower and fruit drop. So in summer, pay attention: strengthen ventilation during the day to reduce humidity, and at the same time set up shade nets and other facilities to increase the temperature difference between day and night. At the same time, control fertilizer application well, especially nitrogen fertilizer. During the flowering and fruiting period, apply more potassium fertilizer and boron fertilizer, and apply less or no nitrogen fertilizer, which can increase the fruit-setting rate. Finally, through foliar spraying, spray growth regulators such as daminozide or chlormequat to control plant growth and reduce flower and fruit drop.
3. Boron deficiency
In many cases, tomato flower and fruit drop is caused by boron deficiency. There are many reasons for boron deficiency in plants, and the best method is to apply more boron fertilizer. Borax can be mixed into the base fertilizer, generally 1 kg per mu is sufficient. At the same time, during the flowering period, use the foliar spraying method, diluting 250 g of borax per mu with water and spraying it, which can quickly supplement the plant's boron requirement and avoid flower and fruit drop.
4. Improper humidity
Too much or too little water can also cause flower and fruit drop in plants. When there is more soil moisture, plants are prone to spindly growth, leading to flower drop; while when there is a lack of water and drought, flower and fruit drop easily occurs. Generally, during flowering and fruiting, it is advisable to maintain soil moisture content at 75%, and ventilation should also be strengthened to reduce and control humidity, keeping humidity at 60%. When watering during drought, be careful not to use flood irrigation; it is better to water frequently and lightly.
The above is an introduction to the causes of and preventive measures for tomato flower and fruit drop. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.