We understand the disappointment when tomato and pepper plants don't meet your expectations. However, it's essential to recognize the resilience of these plants. Despite the challenges of gardening, tomato and pepper plants are remarkable in their ability to adapt and produce fruit under favorable conditions. However, environmental factors like temperature extremes and fluctuations, excess nitrogen from fertilizers, inadequate sunlight, pollination issues, inconsistent watering, pests, and soil conditions can disrupt this and lead to a common phenomenon: "blossom drop. " This is a plant's physiological response to an environmental stressor that causes plants to produce little to no flowers and fruit. Blossom drop occurs when the plant, in response to stress, drops its flowers before they can develop into fruit, conserving energy for survival.
To help your plants recover and mitigate blossom drop, ensure they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. If temperatures consistently rise above 85 degrees F, use shade cloth to protect plants from long days in the sun, or if the plants are in containers, relocate them to an area that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Also, watch those evening temperatures. Anything below 55 degrees F will cause tomato and pepper plants to abort production and redirect energy to survival.
Keep the soil consistently and evenly watered but not overly saturated.
Excess nitrogen from fertilizer or soil can be harmful to your plants. While nitrogen is essential for healthy foliage, too much can lead to excessive vegetative growth at the expense of flower and fruit production. Once plants have flowered and set fruit, we suggest switching to a fertilizer higher in potassium and less nitrogen or a more balanced NPK blend, such as a 10-10-10 formulation with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
Bees or hand pollination can then help kickstart the fruiting process. Bees are natural pollinators and are crucial in tomato and pepper plant production. In the absence of beneficial pollinators, hand pollination can be effective. To hand-pollinate, gently shake the plant's stem or use a small brush to transfer pollen from one flower to another. Our website has an article explaining how to hand-pollinate your plant in more detail, including the best time to do it and the techniques for effective pollen transfer. Here's the link: Got Pollination Problems? Give Hand-Pollination a Try! – Bonnie Plants.
While gardening can be challenging, it's also a journey of learning and adaptation. Growing tomatoes and peppers may require patience, but with the proper adjustments and diligent care, your plants can thrive and produce as expected. Remember, success is within your reach.