Why Small Tomatoes Only Flower but Don't Fruit, and How to Fix It
Some gardeners' small tomatoes only flower but don't set fruit, and the fruits are small and sour. Don't worry, here's how to fix it, so you can enjoy a bounty of tomatoes at home too.
1. Environment
Light: at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day; balcony growers can use grow lights to supplement, avoiding flower drop caused by insufficient light.
Temperature: 25-28°C during the day and 15-18°C at night is ideal; when high temperatures exceed 35°C, provide shade and ventilation (pollen easily becomes inactive).
Humidity: keep it at 50%-60%, drain promptly after rain, and prevent disease caused by excessive humidity.
2. Watering and Fertilizing
Watering: during fruit set, water thoroughly once the top 2 cm of soil has dried out, avoiding alternating drought and moisture that splits fruit; during fruit swelling, water in the morning and evening, avoid midday, do not let water accumulate, and replenish water promptly when demand is high.
Fertilizing: 7 days after flowering, spray a high-phosphorus and high-potassium fertilizer, such as monopotassium phosphate, once every 10 days to promote fruit set; during the young fruit swelling stage, use calcium fertilizer plus high-potassium fertilizer; calcium deficiency easily causes blossom-end rot, so apply light fertilizer frequently.
3. Pruning and Fruit Thinning
Remove side shoots: train to a single stem, cut off old leaves at the bottom and thin, weak side shoots, keeping the main stem.
Thin flowers and fruit: keep 4-5 healthy fruits per truss and remove deformed and small fruits.
Pinching: after 5-6 trusses have set fruit, pinch off the growing tip so nutrients are concentrated in the fruits.
4. Hand Pollination
Gently shake the flower stems: at 10 a.m., gently shake the plant to mimic pollination by natural wind, suitable for open air or balconies.
Brush dotting: dip a soft-bristled brush in pollen and gently brush the stigma of the pistil, essential for enclosed balconies.
5. Pest and Disease Control
Diseases: for early blight, spray mancozeb; for gray mold, cut off diseased leaves and improve ventilation.
Pests: for aphids, rinse with clean water and spray matrine; for red spider mites, spray chili water and increase air humidity.
Prevention: regularly spray baking soda water (1 g : 500 ml) to inhibit the reproduction of pathogens.
In short, as long as you care for your tomatoes according to the steps above, they will set fruit reliably, produce large fruits with a sweet taste, and you can easily enjoy a bounty of tomatoes.
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