Tomato Flowers Dying

[Crazy4Columbine]

I have two strong Tomato plants growing, Golden Girl variety, one plant has one fruit on it. Each plant have many flowers and flower "pods?" but most of them before or upon flowering dry up and turn brown and nothing becomes of them. What is causing this and how can I remedy the problem?

Thanks in advance.

[beeman]

Your flowers are not being fertilized.
You can achieve this by vibrating the flower stem, or better still a spritz with a small hand sprayer with warm water. I do mine every evening spraying straight into the open flower, this year I'm getting a good set now the weather has warmed some.

[Crazy4Columbine]

Really. Well isn't that interesting! I'll give it a go and let you know if it works. Is this something I have to do every day or just once? Why aren't they doing it on their own?

If you couldn't already tell, I'm a total newbie to Tomato growing.

Thanks for the info =)

[beeman]

Is this something I have to do every day or just once? Why aren't they doing it on their own?

It does require insects or vibration to effectively pollinate tomatoes. So provided you get either one then you'll get fruit.
I have tomatoes growing in the greenhouse and there would be a total lack of pollination there, so I spray, almost every day and get a good set of fruit on every truss.
Just out of interest. The commercial greenhouse growers use Bumble bees to pollinate their tomatoes, they actually buy Bumble bee nests to release in the greenhouses.

[Crazy4Columbine]

I have seen quite a few Bumble Bees all around my yard pollinating all my other flowers, so why they've decided to skip my tomato flowers I don't know? Either way, I vibrated and sprayed last night and will hope to see some baby tomatoes soon!

[OGrubber]

Cold temps can trigger the plant to abort - have you had temps go down to 10 degrees C, by any chance?

[Crazy4Columbine]

I've sprayed the flowers with water almost every day, and vibrated the flower stems gently just with my hand. Is there another way this should be done? The day after I first vibrated and sprayed, about 5 flowers opened right up! Not sure if they will produce any fruit but time will tell. It has been very hot here for the last week or so, so fingers crossed, my one lonely tomato will soon have some friends hanging out with it.

[beeman]

Not sure if they will produce any fruit but time will tell. It has been very hot here for the last week or so, so fingers crossed, my one lonely tomato will soon have some friends hanging out with it.

Patience petal, these things take time.
Your answer is the heat and dry conditions. The best fertilization is warm days, cool evenings with heavy dew, then it's automatic and you won't have to bother.
Once you see baby maters on the vine you'll appreciate the effort.

[MareE]

Cold temps can trigger the plant to abort - have you had temps go down to 10 degrees C, by any chance?

Prompted to check Schwarze Sarah progress, Inge. Looking good! Growing in containers on a black shingle material roof, thought it'd be TOO hot for them up there. Sure can't walk barefoot. sssssst C4C, that's a heritage beefsteak variety from Inge's organic seed. First fruit appeared the other day, and sure it won't be lonely for long! Good luck with your Golden Girls!

MareE;o}

[Crazy4Columbine]

Was taking a close look at my tomato plant last night and Woohoo! Teeny tiny baby maters! I am thrilled to bits =) Now my 1 lonely and surely growing tomato won't be a lone hanger!

This may be the start of something dangerous.....

The vibrate & spray method worked wonders...thanks!