How to Get More Flowers on Tomato Plant

Tomato plants bear fruit when the flowers are fertilized. Hence, it is essential to ensure your tomato plant has plenty of flowers. Flowers are created in response to healthy plant growth and the right environment. Here are some tips on how to get more flowers on your tomato plant.

Choose the Right Variety

Choose tomato varieties that come with high yields and are known for heavy flower production such as Early Girl, Brandywine, Big Boy, and Celebrity. Hybrid tomato varieties like Better Boy have higher disease resistance, so they are an ideal choice for beginner growers.

Prune the Tomato Plant

Pruning your tomato plant encourages the growth of more flowers. To prune your tomato plant, remove suckers located between the main stem and the branch. Prune above the first flower cluster up to the sixth flower cluster to allow the plant to focus its energy on producing more flowers.

Feed the Plant

Tomato plants require consistent feeding to ensure that they have adequate nutrients to grow and produce more flowers. Use a balanced fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to encourage blooming. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine the recommended amount of fertilizer for your tomato plant.

Water Properly

Water your tomato plant deeply, so it receives plenty of moisture. The ideal way to water the soil is to use drip irrigation or a soaker hose. Watering from overhead could lead to leaf spot disease and wash away the flowers. Ensure you water regularly and consistently to prevent drought stress, which negatively affects blooming.

Provide the Right Environment

Tomato plants that grow in an ideal environment will produce plenty of flowers. Ensure your tomato plant is exposed to at least eight hours of sunlight per day, has excellent airflow to prevent fungal diseases, and is planted in well-draining soil. Use a trellis to support the plant to ensure it gets maximum exposure to the sun.

Last Thoughts

Getting more flowers on your tomato plant is crucial to increase fruit production. Create the right environment, feed your tomato plant, prune it, water it properly, and choose the right tomato variety for your growing area. Lastly, be patient and give your tomato plant enough time to produce flowers and fruit naturally.