Flowers but no fruit?? - Ask Extension
I have 8 tomato plants in raised beds (12" soil), in cages. They have flowers but no fruit yet. The 2 zucchini plants in the same area also have ...
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Flowers but no fruit?? #879424
Asked July 30, 2024, 1:12 PM EDT
I have 8 tomato plants in raised beds (12" soil), in cages. They have flowers but no fruit yet. The 2 zucchini plants in the same area also have flowers, no fruit yet. They are on the south side of the house, getting full sun.
A few of the flowers are drying up (see photos), although I have watered regularly.
Anything I can do to help--or is it just a matter of time?
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
If pollinators are visiting the tomato flowers, it might take a week or so for visible green immature fruits to become visible once the withered petals drop off. If pollinators are not visiting, having other blooming plants nearby (annuals or perennials) may help to attract them and keep them around.
One potential reason for poor fruit production is high heat from the weather. High heat can stress plants, pausing flower development or killing pollen, meaning that even pollinator visits may fail to produce fruit if the pollen cells died in the meantime. Now that we've cooled off slightly from the more extreme heat wave, especially over night, hopefully some fruiting will begin.
Squash produce male and female flowers separately on the same plant, and typically male flowers will appear first, followed by flowers of both sexes. If female flowers are present but not ripening into fruit, perhaps pollinators are lacking, and you can try pollinating them by hand. Squash bees, which visit squash flowers, are active very early in the day, and usually are done by midday, when the squash flowers themselves are usually closing-up, having only one day of fertility. The pages below might be helpful, both for diagnostics and general plant care:
Miri
One potential reason for poor fruit production is high heat from the weather. High heat can stress plants, pausing flower development or killing pollen, meaning that even pollinator visits may fail to produce fruit if the pollen cells died in the meantime. Now that we've cooled off slightly from the more extreme heat wave, especially over night, hopefully some fruiting will begin.
Squash produce male and female flowers separately on the same plant, and typically male flowers will appear first, followed by flowers of both sexes. If female flowers are present but not ripening into fruit, perhaps pollinators are lacking, and you can try pollinating them by hand. Squash bees, which visit squash flowers, are active very early in the day, and usually are done by midday, when the squash flowers themselves are usually closing-up, having only one day of fertility. The pages below might be helpful, both for diagnostics and general plant care:
- Pollination Problems of Vegetables
- Poor Blossom and Fruit Set of Vegetables
- Growing Summer Squash (Zucchini) in a Home Garden
- Key to Common Problems of Squash
- Growing Tomatoes in a Home Garden
- Key to Common Problems of Tomatoes
Miri
