Why tomatoes don’t set in a greenhouse: tomatoes bloom but there is no ovary

Conditions necessary for setting tomatoes

It is sometimes difficult for an inexperienced summer resident to “please” tomatoes. It is especially important to take into account all the features of the plant during the period of its flowering and fruit set:

Fruit setting occurs best at a temperature of +21 - +23°C;
comfortable air humidity in the greenhouse is 60%;

Early flowering of tomatoes in a greenhouse

tomatoes require watering only at the root (so that water does not get on the stems, leaves and flowers);
watering plants at the flowering stage should be infrequent (a couple of times a week), but plentiful;
Frequent loosening of the soil is required;
Mulching the soil is encouraged.

Reason 2: Fruits do not form in the absence of pollination

It is unlikely, but it may still happen that there will not be a single pollinating insect in the greenhouse during flowering. Let's say we closed it and went on vacation for a week. No one walks in the greenhouse, and insects have no access there. In this situation, everything is clear: no pollination - no fruit.

True, it is difficult to imagine such a picture in real life. Usually the greenhouse with tomatoes is always open (at least the windows). High air humidity is contraindicated for tomatoes; ventilation is mandatory - this is the first commandment of tomato agricultural technology. Again, if the gardener is on the plot, he regularly visits the greenhouse to water, mulch, pick off the shoots, etc. Whether you like it or not, you will shake the bush. In general, you still have to try not to pollinate the flower.

Violation of the temperature regime in the greenhouse

Tomatoes are very picky about temperature conditions. Therefore, even in a greenhouse you need to very carefully monitor changes in air temperature. After all, it is precisely its fluctuations that often become the main reason why fruit ovaries do not form on the bushes after flowering.

Diagram: how a tomato flower works. Important! A clear sign of a lack of heat will be that the plant’s stems and leaves develop too intensively, but the flowers are weak.

If the plant is too hot during the flowering period, the flowers will not be pollinated. The fact is that at temperatures above +30°C, the plant’s pollen loses its fertilizing properties. Even overheating for 1 day will be enough for tomatoes to lose their ability to set fruit.
Air temperatures below +15°C will be too cold for flowering tomatoes. In this case, the plant will stop its growth, the development and fertilization of flowers will not occur.
At night, it is important to ensure optimal temperature and access to fresh air in the greenhouse. If the plant overheats in the dark, it will spend too much energy and nutrients to maintain vital functions; on a weakened plant, fruits will not set after flowering. If it is quite cold at night, then the heating in the greenhouse should be turned on: after a hot day, condensation may form on the bushes, and the humidity will rise sharply.

Advice! To water tomatoes in a greenhouse, do not use too cold water; this can lead to freezing of the plant roots and problems with fruit set.

Preventive measures to preserve ovaries

Gardening specialists recommend the following preventive measures to preserve the ovary on tomato bushes:

Tomatoes should be watered with warm and settled water . For this purpose, barrels are used in which the water is settled and heated to ambient temperature. It is necessary to maintain the required temperature in the greenhouse at a level of +20–25 °C.
When it gets cold, insulate the greenhouse and make additional shelters (blankets, films, cardboard).
Plant seedlings only after there is a threat of frost..
In dry weather, do not close the greenhouse . During this period, a draft will not be superfluous, since it helps the maturation and movement of pollen, and all this contributes to better formation of the ovary.
Timely and correct application of complex mineral and organic fertilizers. At the initial stage of flowering, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added to the soil and care is taken to ensure that there is no excess of nitrogen-containing components.
Form bushes and carry out pinching . With appropriate distribution of stems and removal of excess shoots (stepchildren) during bush formation, the level of fruiting increases significantly. As a result of this procedure, the plant crop will be sufficiently illuminated and the air will circulate well.
Do not thicken the tomato plantings and plant the plants according to the recommended schemes.
Choose good quality planting material . Purchase seeds from a reputable manufacturer. Old or poor quality seeds can lead to poor ovary formation and color loss.
Carry out preventive work against the emergence of diseases and pests.
Choose unpretentious and resistant tomato varieties.
It is best to plant plants of different fruiting periods to avoid weather vagaries.

Did you know? It is believed that constant consumption of tomatoes prevents cancer.
Moreover, this property is not lost during heat treatment of these fruits. It is useful to include tomato juice, ketchup, and tomato paste in your diet. To get a good harvest of tomatoes, you need to carefully monitor the optimal conditions for the appearance of the ovary and, if possible, adjust them. Special fertilizing and spraying will help improve fruit set during flowering; in addition, there are preventive measures to improve the set of tomatoes.

Controlling humidity when setting tomatoes

The optimal air and soil humidity in a greenhouse for growing tomatoes is the second, but not least important, indicator that affects fruit set. Not only the yield, but the health of the plants depends on the control of humidity in the greenhouse: if the standards are not followed, fungal diseases of the crop may develop or parasites may appear.

Tomato flowers that did not produce fruit

A significant increase in air humidity in the greenhouse will inevitably lead to the absence of ovaries on tomatoes - the flowers will simply begin to crumble. The fact is that, saturated with excess moisture, the pollen sticks together and loses the ability to spill out of the anthers, which means pollination cannot occur. Excess moisture can form in the greenhouse after watering: if the windows are closed, moisture begins to settle on the leaves and flowers of the plant - this phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect.
On the contrary, if the air in the greenhouse is too dry, then the pollen already on the pistil will not be able to germinate. However, once the fruits have set, the plant will normally be able to tolerate short dry periods.
To increase air humidity and slightly reduce the temperature, you can pour cold water on the paths in the greenhouse. However, such humidification can be carried out only in the first half of the day, so that the evaporation of moisture at night does not create a greenhouse effect in the greenhouse.

Important! If you notice that the plant is drooping and its leaves are starting to curl, this is an alarming signal and a sure sign of a lack of moisture.

Nitrogen deficiency

Tomatoes need nitrogen supplements, but they need to be applied in moderation. For example, for seedlings they give 40 g per 10 liters of water, and for grown bushes after transplanting to beds - 30 g for the same volume.

In case of excess, the bushes will begin to fatten, i.e. intensively gain green mass. As a result, there will be many branches and leaves, but few flowers. In addition, it is possible that the plants will begin to shed their ovaries.

Thus, the indicated dosages must be followed. On the other hand, nitrogen must be supplied in sufficient quantities, otherwise the bushes will be lethargic and begin to lag behind in development. Such tomatoes will have few flowers, and even they will fall off, which will inevitably affect the yield.

If there is too much nitrogen, tomato bushes will produce a lot of shoots and leaves, but few ovaries - they will fatten

“Nutrition” of tomatoes in a greenhouse

Even during the period of planting seedlings in a greenhouse, many gardeners make a serious mistake - they overfeed the young plant with fertilizers. Often mullein, bird droppings, urea or saltpeter are used - fertilizers containing large amounts of nitrogen. After all, it is difficult to resist feeding when after it the seedlings become stronger and grow literally before our eyes. However, such growth of leaf mass under the influence of nitrogen leads to the fact that fruits on the bush do not set, and the roots of the bush become weak.

Strong flowering tomato cluster

Therefore, it is very important to know that fertilizing with nitrogen-containing fertilizers can be carried out only after fruits have set on the bushes. In this case, the beneficial substances will not go into leaf growth, but into fruit development. Another problem is the decrease in the amount of potassium in the soil during fruit set. As for urea, it is used for depleted soils, so there is no need to use urea in a greenhouse.

Excess of stepsons

Tomato planting, photo Bonnie Plants

By nature, the tomato is a large perennial bush. And he strives with all his might to achieve natural states, not suspecting that in our latitudes he is given a maximum of six months. Bearing fruit is not included in the plant’s plans for the near future, but growing green mass is very much so.

The more you add organic matter and mineral nitrogen fertilizers to the soil, the more actively the tomato bush will grow. And while the neighbor’s “sufferers” are already tying their third brush, your handsome one, at best, will bloom.

Shaping the bush will help set the tomato on the right path. At a minimum, it includes removing most of the stepsons and maintaining 1-3 main stems (depending on the variety). The remaining stepsons will actively draw strength from the mother plant, so fruit set will be delayed indefinitely.

How to properly pick tomatoes and whether you need to do it at all
Why shoot tomatoes, how to do it correctly and what will happen to the tomatoes if you don’t do shoots? Let's figure it out together!

What to do if the plant is overfed with fertilizers

If you notice that all the strength of the plant goes into the leaves, and the flowers are weak and do not pollinate, you need to:

temporarily stop watering tomato bushes;
ventilate the greenhouse well so that the air becomes drier;
carry out foliar and root feeding of tomatoes with phosphorus fertilizer;
remove some of the leaves, especially those that cover the flowers from the sun and air access.

A plant overfed with fertilizers has large, succulent leaves and weak flowers.

Why there is no ovary after flowering tomato: reasons

There can be many sources of manifestation of poor fruit set, let’s consider the main ones:

If it’s hot outside, there may be very little ovary on the tomatoes. At ambient temperatures of more than 30 degrees, pollen loses its properties. It becomes sterile. That is why the pistil does not fertilize and the flowers fall off.
Low temperatures also have an adverse effect on the growth of tomatoes. Already at twelve degrees the buds cannot be formed, at 16 degrees they do not open. If flowering does not occur, there will be no fertilization. Therefore, during the cold season, only stems, leaves, etc. grow, but the ovary does not form.

Tomatoes have no ovary

High humidity and precipitation negatively affect the reproduction of tomatoes. Due to the increased moisture content (more than 70%), the anthers are unable to open, wet pollen does not fall on the pistil, because it loses its properties and does not spill over. In addition, tomato leaves are affected by bacteria and fungi.
Low lighting or lack of sunlight leads to low yields. Plants love well-lit areas.
A bad ovary also results from a lack of microelements: magnesium, phosphorus. Fruits do not set if there is an excess of nitrogen in the soil.
To prevent the plant from wasting its energy on green growth, it is recommended to remove the stepsons. All nutritional components will then be used for laying offspring, or rather for the formation of fruits.
Despite the fact that tomatoes are capable of pollinating themselves, sometimes due to prevailing circumstances (unfavorable weather or greenhouse conditions) this does not happen. Therefore, forced pollination must be done.
Tomatoes are characterized by rapid growth of stems, leaves, etc. But when the root system is still weakened, and the upper part is growing rapidly, the ovary may be reset. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce fertilizing, hill up, and water the crop.

Pollination of tomatoes in a greenhouse

If tomatoes are grown in the ground, then their pollination occurs naturally: wind and insects carry pollen. However, if you are growing a crop in a greenhouse, you cannot ignore the issue of pollination.

Natural pollination of tomatoes in a greenhouse

In the warm season, greenhouses must be opened for ventilation and access for beneficial insects. And if the air temperature outside is stable and stays within +20 - +26°C, then you can leave the greenhouse open even at night.
In the cold season, when tomatoes are grown in a heated greenhouse, pollination should be carried out artificially, and care should be taken about the ventilation system.

Advice! To attract bees to naturally pollinate tomatoes, plant honey plants in the greenhouse or simply bring pots of flowers.

How long does it take for tomatoes to bloom before setting?

Growing garden crops occurs in several stages. An attentive gardener can easily notice at what stage the failure occurs. Stages of fruit ripening in tomato:

the appearance of the first flower clusters above the seventh or eighth leaf of the stem;
after one or three leaves, the following tassels are ejected;
after seven days flowering begins, subject to stable optimal weather for this;
within 12-36 hours, the pollen of tomato plants is reborn in conditions of good flowering;
within 15-25 days the fruit takes on the shape corresponding to the variety;
On the eighth or fifteenth day, the tomatoes are fully ripened.

How to pollinate tomatoes in a greenhouse artificially

If you notice that natural pollination does not occur and there is no ovary on the tomatoes, then take measures to pollinate manually. There are several effective ways to do this:

Lightly shake the tomato plant or tap its main stem. Often such a slight movement is enough to wake up the pollen.
You can create an artificial gust of wind using a fan. To do this, turn on the device and walk with it along the rows of tomatoes.
The oldest method of hand pollination involves the use of an ordinary brush. This way you can transfer pollen to the pistil of the flower.
Some gardeners use an electric toothbrush for hand pollination. Turn on the device and bring it to the flower (do this carefully so as not to damage the plant). Vibrating the brush will help transfer pollen.

Important! You can visually determine whether a flower is pollinated. If pollination has occurred, the flower petals will open and tilt back.

It is very important to water the tomatoes after pollination, and also lightly spray them with a spray bottle - this will create the air humidity necessary for pollen germination.

Pollination problem

This issue can be especially acute for greenhouse plants. There is insufficient air circulation inside the room and a complete absence of the necessary insects.

It is recommended to ventilate greenhouses on a regular basis, and there are also methods to attract bees and bumblebees.

If it is not possible to practice these options, you will have to pollinate the plants manually.

Otherwise, there is no way to expect fruit. It is enough to simply shake the plant brushes lightly in the morning and evening to help the pollen fall off.

Why do tomatoes bloom but there is no ovary? Growing tomatoes. When to feed tomatoes

Forming a bush for setting tomato fruits

Even if everything is in order with the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse, fruits may not set on the bushes. And the problem may lie in the plant itself, or more precisely, in the mistakes of inexperienced summer residents.

Removing tomato flowers damaged by fungal disease

Many hybrid varieties of tomatoes cannot be grown from their own seeds - such plants will not produce ovaries.
Spraying with pesticides during the flowering period will certainly have a negative impact on fruit set (pollen will lose its productivity).
Care must be taken to ensure that no harmful insects or fungal diseases appear on the bushes. A weakened plant will not bear fruit.
Tomatoes must have enough sun, so you need to set up a greenhouse on the sunny side of the site, and also plant the bushes so that they are not crowded and do not block each other’s light.
Leave one stem on each bush and pruning - this will make the bush stronger and prepare it for fruit development.

Treatment with folk remedies

Folk remedies for creating a rich harvest are not scientifically proven, but they give visible results if used correctly and on time. They are safe for humans and insects, suitable for both greenhouses and open ground.

Milk and iodine

This mixture is often recommended by experienced gardeners to increase the amount of ovary on tomatoes. Milk-iodine feeding is useful during the flowering period, when plants need protection and nutrition with microelements. Milk contains many compounds useful for tomatoes and covers the leaves with a thin film that protects them from dry air, fungal diseases and pests.

Iodine acts as an antiseptic, increases immunity, protects against late blight, and provides the necessary nutrition. Spraying and watering plants with a mixture of milk and iodine increases yield by 20–30% by improving nutrition.

To prepare a solution, dissolve 10 (for open ground 15 drops) iodine in 1 liter of low-fat milk. Add 4 liters of water to the mixture, filter and process the tomatoes in the morning or evening. For better ovary, bushes can be watered and sprayed with a spray bottle at the same time.

Boric acid

A proven remedy for increasing the ovary of tomatoes. Boron plays an important role in the formation of the root system, improves the absorption of nutrients, and increases pollen activity. If there is enough microelement, flowers are pollinated even in heat and high humidity. Succinic acid works the same way.

To prepare a solution for starting tomatoes, you will need 5 grams of boric acid and 10 liters of liquid. The powder is first mixed in a small container with hot water (50–60 °C), then the solution is adjusted to the required volume.

It is better to treat tomato seedlings with boric acid so that the ovaries appear faster, it is better to start before active flowering.

Useful video on how to treat tomatoes with boric acid for fruit set

Honey

It is recommended to spray plants with honey solution twice a season.
Treatment of tomatoes for ovary with folk remedies is mainly aimed at strengthening the root system and plant development. Honey copes with this task perfectly. A solution of 1 tbsp. l. product and 1 liter of water is a powerful biostimulant. Not only does it nourish plants and improve pollination, but it also attracts bees. Without honey, they will not pay any attention to tomato flowers.

The same mixture is watered at the roots of the tomatoes. As a result, the leaves acquire a bright green color, the bushes become stronger, the root system is more powerful, and the fruits are filled with sweetness.

Nettle

Plants will be rewarded with a good harvest if you feed them with fermented nettle infusion during flowering. The solution helps to increase the ovary of tomatoes in greenhouses and open ground, strengthens the immune system, and makes the bushes more resistant to temperature changes and cold nights.

Prepare the fertilizer as follows (proportions per 200 liters of water):

6 buckets of chopped nettles;
1/2 bucket of chicken manure or mullein bucket;
1 kg bread crusts.

The barrel is filled 2/3 with water, organic matter is added, and mixed. Leave it in the sun for 5-10 days, and after fermentation, top it up to the brim.

To water tomato bushes, 1 liter of the mixture is poured into a bucket of water. When spraying tomatoes to get more ovary, you need a solution of lower concentration - just take 100 ml of solution per 2 liters of water.

How to treat tomatoes for fruit set in a greenhouse

In order to increase the yield of tomatoes, experienced gardeners recommend spraying them with a solution of boric acid during flowering. To do this, dissolve boric acid powder (10 g) in one bucket of warm water. A lack of phosphorus can be detrimental to bushes. To feed tomatoes, you will need superphosphate extract or phosphate fertilizer.

Mineral fertilizers for tomatoes

To obtain superphosphate extract, dilute it (3 tablespoons) in a liter of warm water. And then let the composition brew for two days. Don't forget to stir the solution. Then remove the sediment, and the resulting tincture can be fed to the plants: 1 liter per root.
Phosphate fertilizer can be purchased at a specialty store. It contains 50% phosphorus and 40% potassium. The powder dissolves quickly in water and is immediately ready for use.

Advice! Root feeding is applied after the bushes are watered with ordinary water.

Boron deficiency

In general, everything is fine with nutrition, but a lack of boron can give such results, since boron is the element responsible for flowering and pollen, and, accordingly, for seeds and fruits. If this is the reason, then you need to fertilize, preferably foliar. The same problems occur in apple trees and strawberries. Spraying with a solution of boric acid diluted in a proportion of 5 grams per 10 liters of water will help eliminate boron deficiency. The soil does not contain enough of this element, so the procedure is carried out once every two weeks, spraying new stems and leaves.

Fruit setting of tomatoes in a greenhouse: photo

Advantages and disadvantages of the drug

“Ovary” has versatility - it can be applied both in a greenhouse and in open ground.

Before using the drug, you should consider its benefits.

The versatility of the product allows it to be used for spraying vegetable crops, fruit trees and shrubs.

The composition includes safe substances, which allows you to get an environmentally friendly harvest. The active component does not have any effect on the taste and appearance.

One treatment provides the plant with protection for a whole month.

The product promotes the formation of ovaries even in unfavorable weather, strengthens the plant’s immunity, and accelerates the ripening of fruits by 5-7 days.

Spraying crops eliminates the formation of barren flowers.

Due to the use of biological substances for the preparation of the drug and ease of use, gardeners did not find any disadvantages of Ovary.

A fruit formation stimulator cannot completely replace pollination by bees and bumblebees.

The working solution is prepared by dissolving the powder in water. It is important to adhere to the recommendations, instructions and dosage indicated on the package. For each vegetable crop or fruit tree the concentration is different, for example, for a tomato the following proportions are prescribed:

- spraying to maintain a healthy appearance and flowering - 2 grams per 1.5 liters of water. facilities;

- treatment to stimulate fruit formation and increase yield - 2 grams per 1 liter of water. facilities.

Before starting processing, you should familiarize yourself with the following recommendations:

the procedure is carried out early in the morning or in the evening;

the weather should be dry and windless;

the working solution must be prepared immediately before watering the bushes (when diluted, the properties of the drug last no more than a day);

To spray the liquid evenly, use a sprayer;

It is worth carrying out treatment in order to maintain a healthy appearance of plants 2 times a season (at the stage of bud formation and after the appearance of flower stalks);

to stimulate the formation of ovaries, you need to spray 3 times a season (at the stage of flowering of the first cluster, then the second and third);

The principle of treatment and the concentration of the solution used in open beds is the same as when sprayed in greenhouses.
ADVICE: When processing “Ovary” you need to take precautions!

How to protect a plant from disease

Many gardeners wonder why their neighbors grew a good harvest, but their seemingly strong ovaries fell off. The reason lies in the fact that the neighbors carried out preventive measures and took care of the harvest in advance. If you follow all the recommendations, you won’t have to think about why the ovaries in tomatoes in a greenhouse dry out.

The disease can occur with poor pollination, extreme heat, or a lack of calcium and potassium.

A few tips for growing tomatoes

To ensure a happy tomato harvest, you must adhere to the following rules:

You can harvest a large harvest only if you have a greenhouse. Polycarbonate is considered an excellent material for construction. In such a structure it is very easy to maintain a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. It is in this climate that the ovary does not turn yellow and does not fall off.
For ideal pollination, you need to ensure an air temperature of at least +15. Gardeners don't worry about this if they have a greenhouse.
Feeding with calcium and potassium has a very beneficial effect on the health of the plant, and the tomatoes do not fall off.
Lack of lighting is the reason why leaves fall and the ovary dries out. The remaining fruits grow too long. Here you will have to carry out additional lighting and fertilize the plant with nitrogen preparations.
It is allowed to spray tomatoes with boric acid. To do this, take a teaspoon of acid and dilute it in 10 liters of water.

Flower falling occurs quite often. The reason for this is incorrect agricultural technology. If you know why this happens and take into account all the nuances, then you can always preserve the ovary and grow delicious tomatoes. In addition, at your summer cottage there must be a greenhouse, with the help of which you can forever forget about why the leaves fall from the tomatoes.