tomatoes dropping flowers

[nemo]

hello i have 4 different varieties of tomatoes in my poly tunnel one variety (Shirley) are dropping the flowers onto the soil .the other varieties are fine and healthy what is causing the flowers to be dropped off.they all get the same feed.any advice would be appreciated
regards
nemo

[Adrastea]

Hi Nemo, I found this on the net:

Blossom drop is a common tomato growing problem that can be extremely frustrating to the home gardener. Otherwise healthy looking tomato plants set flower blossoms, only to have them dry up and fall off the plant before a fruit is formed.


Blossom drop can be attributed to several causes, most often related to either temperature and / or stress.

Temperature Too High or Too Low
Lack of Pollination
Nitrogen - Too Much or Too Little
Humidity Too High or Low Humidity.
Lack of water
Stress from insect damage or disease
Too Heavy Fruit Set

perhaps your 'Shirley' variety can't handle the conditions like your other plants? Do any of these sound likely?

[Tomatoking]

I have found that if tomatoes do not set early in the season, mainly because of low temperatures while they were still forming, then the unset flowers will fall off.
They should be ok in the future, as long as you have not contiuing problems as mentioned by Adrastea.

Mr TK

[big tray]

I have the same problem, along with my first truss setting way too high up the plant!

[nemo]

the bottom 2 trusses are good size fruit now, its the 3rd and 4th trusses that are dropping off.the other varieties are fine.every year there is something new that doesn't perform as last years crop.
thanks for your messages
regards nemo

[Tomatoking]

I have the same problem, along with my first truss setting way too high up the plant!

That sounds like you have leggy plants, form lack of light, early in the season.
Plenty of high potash feed (tomato feed) might help a little.

Mr TK

[Tomatoking]

the bottom 2 trusses are good size fruit now, its the 3rd and 4th trusses that are dropping off.the other varieties are fine.every year there is something new that doesn't perform as last years crop.
thanks for your messages
regards nemo

Hi Nemo

Sometimes if you get a couple of good early trusses the plant tends to get thin at the top, mine are a bit like that now. This could cause setting problems higher up as the plant is helping itself survive by having less stress on it with even more fruit.
Keep them well feed, and they will right themselves. Sometimes I find my plants look slightly frail until I start picking fruit, so this year I am feeding them a bit more.

Mr TK