It’s normal for tomato plants to start withering away at some point, which can make you anxious. Any plant needs a lot of work to grow, which is one reason why you might feel depressed if it happens.
Beginners can be discouraged by this problem, but if you learn what causes your tomato plants to die, it will be easy to bring them back to life.
So, if you want to keep your plants from dying, you should think about the five most common causes.
If you take the appropriate action, you will be able to save your plants just in time before they are completely destroyed.
I’ll now talk about the five things that kill tomato plants most often.
Why Are My Tomato Plants Dying?
There are a few reasons why your tomato plants might be dying, but the most likely one is that they are missing one or more essential nutrients. A lack of water, cold soil, a lack of nutrients in the soil, extreme heat, damage from transplanting, too much or too little sunlight, disease, or pests could also be to blame.
These are the five reasons, and if you scroll down further on this page, you’ll find a more in-depth explanation for each one of them:
1. Not Enough Sunlight
Consider raising the light levels if your tomato plants have a lot of lush foliage but few flowers.
Tomatoes require a lot of light and will only thrive if they get at least six hours of direct sunlight every day.
Dull weather is only a temporary problem, but if you planted them in a less-than-sunny position, you may want to relocate them to a more sunny location, because more sunshine equals more energy to produce those fruits.
Solution
If your tomato plants aren’t producing fruit, the first thing you should check is whether they’re getting enough sunlight. Tomatoes need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
If they’re not getting enough sun, you can try moving them to a sunnier spot or using a grow light. You can also buy a tomato plant stand to raise them up so they’re getting closer to the sun.
2. High or Low Humidity
As if getting the right temperature wasn’t difficult enough, our tomatoes may be too wet… or too dry!
High humidity may cause pollen to cluster together and fail to settle on the female stigma due to the cramped, unpleasant conditions.
Extreme dryness has the opposite effect: pollen just falls off the blooms because they are too dry for it to attach to.
There isn’t much you can do about excessive humidity levels other than provide appropriate ventilation and plenty of space between plants to aid airflow.
Pruning some of the lower leaves can also help to enhance air circulation.
If you have a problem with bone dry air, keep your plants watered, and the humidity surrounding your plants should remain more steady as excess moisture evaporates.
Providing adequate water will also provide plants with the nutrients they need to completely swell their fruits, reducing the likelihood of them dropping off.
If you’re growing under cover, splattering water on the pavers will help promote humidity.
Solution
If the environment your tomato plant is in is either too high or low in humidity, this can prevent the flowers from turning into fruit.
In high humidity, the flowers will stay wet for too long and the petals will start to rot. While in low humidity, the flowers will not get enough water to turn into fruit.
There are a few ways to combat this: you can increase or decrease the humidity in the environment, or you can help the plant by using a humidifier or dehumidifier.
3. Excess Heat
Our tomatoes, like those of many other producers, are suffering from extreme summer heat.
As temperatures climb over 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius), pollen becomes sterile, especially if nocturnal temperatures do not fall below 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius).
All you can do is wait for the temps to drop again. Keep your plants cool by leaving windows, doors, and vents open and maybe masking part of the sunlight with curtains, fabric, or greenhouse shade paint.
Grow climate-appropriate cultivars as well. Look for a warm-climate tomato variety that can withstand the heat if your garden becomes extremely hot.
Solution
When it comes to tomato plants not producing fruit, one of the possible causes is that the plant is getting too much heat. If this is the case, then you’ll need to take some measures to cool it down.
One thing you can do is move the plant to a cooler location. If that’s not possible, then you can try watering it more often so that it will cool down.
And if all else fails, you can purchase a tomato plant shade cloth to protect it from the sun.
4. Lack of Pollination
Other fruiting vegetables, such as squash, have male and female flowers, whereas tomatoes have blossoms that contain both male and female components.
This implies that they are self-pollinating and self-fertile.
While technically correct, pollinating insects, particularly bumblebees, will improve fruit set significantly.
Bumblebees “buzz pollinate” by flapping their wings up and down at a frequency that produces their distinctive low, audible buzz—and it is this buzz that causes a vibration, causing pollen to be shaken loose from the male portion and fall onto the waiting female stigma when they visit a flower.
We want more bumblebees, so make it simple for them to get to the flowers!
*If growing under cover, open greenhouse or tunnel vents, windows, and doors. Also, plant nectar-rich flowers alongside your tomatoes to attract more pollinators!
Fruit set can also be promoted by hand pollination.
You could stroll from bloom to bloom like this with a little artist’s paint brush, but twanging or tapping on plant supports is a far more practical approach to extract pollen to fertilize the female regions of the flower.
By shaking the petals and replicating the motions of a bumblebee, you can greatly boost pollination success!
Solution
If your tomato plants are not producing fruit, it could be because of a lack of pollination. Pollination is when the pollen from the male flower (which looks like a little cluster of balls) combines with the female flower (which has a tiny fruit behind it).
If there are no bees or other insects around to do this, you can do it yourself with a paintbrush. Just make sure to do it in the morning when the flowers are open.
You can also try using a cotton swab, but I find that the paintbrush works better. And once you’ve pollinated the flowers, you should see little green tomatoes start to form within a few weeks.
5. Incorrect Nutrition
Finally, think about what you’re giving your tomatoes. Use an organic fertilizer high in potassium and trace elements like magnesium after the first flowers develop.
This will assist us in achieving our goal of more blooms and improved fruit set.
Use something like liquid tomato feed or seaweed concentrate. This encourages stronger plants, reduces the incidence of blossom end rot, and boosts the nutritional content of the fruits itself.
Most feeds are administered every two weeks by measuring and diluting the concentrate as directed on the box, then watering it in at the plant’s base.
Aim for optimal soil health by introducing at least once a year a suitable amount of well-rotted organic matter into your soil.
This will aid in the development of a healthy soil life community, which will sustain all of your plants, including those delicious tomatoes!
Solution
The final solution to the problem of your tomato plants not producing fruit has to do with incorrect nutrition.
Just like humans, tomato plants need a balanced diet in order to function properly. And if they’re not getting the right nutrients, they won’t be able to produce fruit.
There are three main nutrients that tomato plants need: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Nitrogen is responsible for growth, phosphorus is responsible for flowering and fruit production, and potassium is responsible for overall plant health.
If your plants are not getting enough of any of these nutrients, it could explain why they’re not producing fruit.
The best way to solve this problem is to get a soil test done so you can see exactly what nutrients your plants are lacking. Then you can add the appropriate fertilizer to their diet and hopefully get them back on track.
Why Are My Tomato Plants Turning Brown And Dying?
The leaves on your tomato plants are turning brown and dying for a reason. Let’s take a look at the five most common causes of this problem and the solutions you can use to correct them.
Lack of sunlight.
Your tomato plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to grow healthy and strong. If they’re not getting enough light, move them to a location where they will.
Overwatering
Tomatoes need watering only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. If you’re watering them too often, you’re drowning them and they will die.
Underwatering
Not watering your tomatoes enough is just as bad as overwatering them. They need about an inch of water per week, either from rainfall or from you watering them manually.
Pests or diseases
Tomato plants are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, such as aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, blight, and rot.
If you see any evidence of pests or diseases on your plants, treat them immediately with the appropriate pesticide or fungicide.
Incorrect soil pH levels
The pH level of your soil affects the ability of plants to take up essential nutrients from the soil.
Most vegetables do best when the pH level is between 6 and 7 (slightly acidic).
If you find that your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, adjust it accordingly with lime or sulfur products.
Is It Possible To Save A Dying Tomato Plant?
If your tomato plant is looking a bit sad and you’re not sure what’s wrong, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
A lot of gardeners have trouble identifying the cause of their tomato plants’ death. But don’t fret, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll go over the five most common causes of tomato plant death, as well as the solutions.
And don’t forget, even if your plant has died, it’s not too late to plant a new one. So let’s get started.
How Do You Revive a Dying Tomato Plant?
If your tomato plants are starting to look a little off, don’t worry—you can revive them. All you need to do is determine the cause of death and act accordingly.
Here are five common causes of tomato plant death, along with solutions:
- Lack of sunlight: If your tomato plants aren’t getting enough sunlight, they will start to die. Move them to a sunnier spot or use a grow light.
- Lack of water or nutrients: If your tomato plants aren’t getting enough water or nutrients, they will start to die. Make sure to water them regularly and fertilize them every two weeks.
- Pest infestation: If your tomato plants are being eaten alive by pests, they will start to die. Use an organic pesticide to get rid of the pests.
- Diseases: If your tomato plants are infected with a disease, they will start to die. Use a fungicide to get rid of the disease.
- Frost damage: If your tomato plants are exposed to frost, they will start to die. Move them inside or cover them with a frost blanket when frost is expected.
What Promotes Tomato Growth?
If you want to have a healthy tomato crop, you need to make sure that the plants are getting the right nutrients. This includes things like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can get these nutrients from compost or commercial fertilizers.
You also need to make sure that your plants are getting enough water. Tomato plants like a lot of water, but they don’t like to be waterlogged. So, you need to make sure that your plants are in well-draining soil and that you’re not over-watering them.
Finally, tomato plants need full sun to grow well. If your plants are getting less than six hours of sunlight a day, they’re not going to produce as many tomatoes as they could be.
Why Are My Tomato Plants Dying From The Bottom Up?
If your tomato plants are dying from the bottom up, it’s likely because of a condition called blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit, which results in the fruit rotting from the bottom up.
There are a few things that can cause a lack of calcium in the fruit, including:
Poor soil drainage: If the soil doesn’t drain well, the roots can’t take up calcium from the soil.
Inconsistent watering: If you water inconsistently, the plant will go through stress periods where it can’t take up calcium from the soil.
High temperatures: High temperatures can cause the plant to stop taking up calcium from the soil.
To prevent blossom end rot, make sure you have well- drained soil and water consistently. If you live in an area with high temperatures, try to provide some shade for your plants.
Tomato Plants Dying Before Fruit Ripens
If your tomato plants are dying before the fruit has a chance to ripen, the problem is likely blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the plant, which can be due to several factors, including over-fertilization, uneven watering, or soil that’s too compacted.
The solution? You need to make sure your tomato plants are getting enough calcium. One way to do this is to add lime to the soil around the plants. You can also try using a calcium-rich fertilizer, such as bone meal or eggshells. And finally, make sure you’re watering evenly and not over-watering, which can leach calcium out of the soil.
Conclusion
Many people enjoy gardening as a pastime, but for others, it is a means of providing for themselves and their families. When a person discovers that their plants are dying, it can put them under a great deal of stress.
It is most likely to happen to a beginner because he doesn’t know everything there is to know about managing a plantation.
It is most likely to happen to a beginner because he doesn’t know everything there is to know about managing a plantation.
There are a few reasons why tomato plants might start to wilt, and I’ve already gone over those reasons and how to fix them up above. If you follow the advice in the article step by step, you should be able to put your worries to rest.
From here on out, you shouldn’t have any trouble solving the problem, and if you take preventative steps, you should be able to avoid problems like this in the future.