7 Reasons Tomatoes are Dropping Off the Vine Prematurely (And How to Fix)

Tomatoes dropping off the vine prematurely is one of the frustrating things that many gardeners go through. It’s commonly a sign that your plants are stressed or that they are missing something important. To save the situation, let’s understand why this happens, and you can fix it.

Some of the main causes of this problem include extreme temperatures, deficiency of certain nutrients, improper watering, inadequate light, heavy fruiting, excess nitrogen, pests, and diseases. 

Let’s look at each factor in detail:

Why Are My Tomatoes Dropping Off the Vine?

The following are the main reasons why tomatoes drop and what to do:

1. Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures is the main reason for tomatoes dropping off the vine before ripening. Extreme temperatures can also affect pollination negatively and prevent flowers from developing fruits. Tomato plants prefer mild temperate climates where the temperature is not too hot or too cold.

Tomato plants thrive when the temperature is between 90 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit (32 – 10 degrees Celsius) during the day and 75 – 55 degrees Fahrenheit (24-13 degree Celsius) at night. Sudden heat waves or cold fronts in summer can cause the plant to drop its fruits.

Tomato plants suffering from extreme temperatures may also show wilted leaves and dropping flowers or fruits. Extreme temperatures may result from climate, unseasonable weather, and poor planting time. On the other hand, early planting may also expose your plants to frost. 

How to fix

If you are planting your tomatoes in a climate that experiences a hot summer, it is recommended to get a shade cloth for your plants. This UV-stable mesh fabric is designed to block a certain amount of light from the sun, thus preventing heat-related issues.

Shade clothes come in different shades that block various percentages of sunlight. For tomato gardening, you may use a shade cloth that blocks between 30 – 50 % of light from the sun when the temperature is too hot.

Planting tomatoes at the right time can also help avoid extreme temperatures. Planting too late in the season can expose your plants to early frost at the end of the season. If you have planted your tomatoes in containers, move them indoors when outdoor temperatures are too cold.

2. Under or Overwatering Your Plants

Tomato plants tend to shed fruits prematurely when stressed due to under- or overwatering. Tomatoes require a steady supply of water throughout the growing season. Lack of enough water due to drought or poor watering sets the plant into survival mode, where it’s likely to drop leaves and fruits.

On the other hand, excess watering causes poor air supply in the soil, resulting in root rot and other fungal issues. This can stress a tomato plant, and if it happens during the fruiting season, then you will likely see fruits dropping off prematurely.

How to fix

Test your soil for moisture. You may use a moisture meter or simply dip your finger in the soil. If the soil is dry, water your plants deeply. Water early in the morning when the sun is not too hot. It allows the plant to absorb enough water before it evaporates into the atmosphere. 

When watering your tomatoes, ensure the water is delivered at the base of the plant near the roots. Avoid wetting the leaves. Watering on the leaves encourages fungal infection, especially in areas with high humidity.

Planting your tomatoes deep into the soil can also help to make them resilient to dry conditions. The plant develops additional roots that absorb water, nutrients, and other minerals from deeper into the soil. Mulching around your tomatoes can also help to conserve soil moisture content. 

3. Deficiency of Certain Nutrients

Tomato plants require nutrients to grow healthy and produce fruits. Deficiencies of certain nutrients in the soil can lead to various symptoms, such as tomatoes dropping off the vine, spindly vines, and chlorosis.

Chlorosis is a common problem characterized by leaf yellowing. This problem results from a deficiency of magnesium and iron in the soil. Tomato plants suffering from this condition are unable to produce chlorophyll, which is a pigment that makes leaves appear green. 

Lack of sufficient calcium and iron can also affect tomato production. Calcium deficiency causes tomatoes to turn black or brown at the blossom end. This problem is commonly referred to as blossom end rot. On the other hand, low amounts of iron in the soil causes top leaves and new growth to appear yellow. 

How to fix

Start by conducting soil tests to determine the exact nutrient that is lacking. You can take soil samples to a nearby University extension for tests.  Extreme pH levels is one of the signs that your soil is missing a certain nutrient.  

Magnesium, calcium, and iron deficiencies can be improved by adding magnesium sulfate, iron sulfate, and lime, respectively, into the soil. Adding organic matter into the soil can also help increase fertility and humus content, very beneficial for healthy tomato plants.

4. Inadequate sunlight

Tomato plants require adequate light to grow healthy and develop their fruits, at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. Inadequate light causes the plant to become stressed and may cause the fruits to drop before they mature fully. If you are lucky, the fruits may take a longer time to ripen.

Planting tomatoes near tall buildings or structures can block the plants from accessing sunlight. Being a useful resource in photosynthesis, the lack of it means fewer sugars are produced for the healthy growth of the plant. With less energy, they may shed some of the fruits prematurely.

How to fix

Check your surroundings to ensure that your tomatoes are receiving maximum sunlight. Trim any tree branches that are blocking sunlight. If you are growing your tomatoes indoors, place them near a large window that allows in more light. You can also enhance lighting with artificial grow lights. 

When planning to grow tomatoes, look for a suitable place within your garden that receives the maximum amount of sunlight. Avoid places with tall buildings or trees that may block light from the sun. 

5. Heavy Fruiting

Tomatoes dropping off the vine can also result from too much fruiting. The plant can only support a certain amount of fruits depending on water, nutrients, and other environmental factors. If the plant gets overwhelmed, some fruits may be dropped off. It is one of the survival strategies in plants.

Heavy fruiting can also cause damage to the plant. Excess weight from the fruits can break the entire branch. To prevent this from happening, the plant may drop some of the fruits.

How to fix

Prune off some of the blossoms towards the end of the bunch. Leave 3 to 4 sets of flowers to develop into fruits. It helps the plant to produce large and quality fruits. It is also important to pinch off extra suckers; excess weight can cause the plant to tip over.

Provide your plants with cages or trellis to enable them to grow in an upward position and to support the weight of the plant, together with its fruits.

6. Pest and Diseases 

Tomatoes are commonly attacked by aphids, hornworms, cutworms, and thrips. Small insects like aphids and thrips suck juices from the plant while large insects like hornworms and cutworms feed on the leaves, stems, and branches of the plant, causing serious damage that can result in fruits dropping.

Additionally, various diseases like early blight, late blight, septorial leaf spots, and blossom end rot, among others, can cause premature dropping of tomatoes and other symptoms such as wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth.

How to fix

Check your plants regularly for any signs of disease or pest infestation and treat promptly. Small pests like thrips and aphids can be controlled by the use of organic spray such as neem oi,l while the large insects like hornworms can be handpicked and killed.

In some cases, you may be required to uproot the whole plant and remove it from the garden to prevent the disease from spreading to other healthy plants. Practice crop rotation to control pests and diseases.

7. Excess Nitrogen Levels

Feeding your tomato plants with excess nitrogen can cause them to drop their fruits prematurely. Excess nitrogen in the soil encourages the growth of foliage at the expense of flowers and fruits. The stems become thin and elongated and are unable to support the weight of the fruits.

Tomato plants require potassium and phosphorus to grow healthy and develop the fruits. Nitrogen is necessary when the plant is still young.

How to fix

Use a slow releasing Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer when planting tomatoes. Give low nitrogen, high potassium, and phosphorus during the fruiting season at least once every month.  

Final Thoughts

Now that you know why tomatoes may drop off the vine prematurely and how to fix them, you can make the right decision on when to plant and how to take care of your plants. It all starts with choosing the right variety that is suitable for your climatic conditions. Feed and water your plants correctly for them to stay healthy and produce quality fruits.