Help! Tomato blossoms dropping off!

[Angela Dougherty]

Hi,

I have 4 tomatoes in containers and all are looking vigorous & healthy with many blossoms. I've already eaten several Sungolds, and two of the other plants have set fruit. I'm worried about the Brandywine. It looks fine, but as the flowers mature, the stems dry up and they fall off. The plant has only one fruit.

Any ideas? I'd rule out disease because of the overall health of the plant, but what about bugs? Or is this typical of this variety?

Thanks!

Angela

[Phaedrine Stonebridge]

We planted a couple Brandywines (I forget which one) this year to see how they do here in Missouri. So far none have ripened. The few fruits are massive in size (these plants are staked not caged) but are "sectioned" as opposed to forming in one, contiguous roundy shape. I am sure there is a name for this phenomenon but I don't know it. I recall beefsteaks in my dad's garden that used to do that. In any case, I will let you know how they do here in Z 5b. Of some ?50 tomato plants, I think those and some old Romas are our only heritage tomatoes.

[Angela Dougherty]

Thanks for the input. I live in Seattle and we've been having an unusually hot early summer. A couple of years ago a neighbor gave us a few fabulous large, ripe Brandywines. They should grow OK here, but why are my blossoms falling off?

Angela

[Emmet Cummings]

Angela, if it's too hot, or too cold, or the soil is too rich you'll drop blossoms.

Rob