Why Is My Tomato Plant Not Producing Tomatoes? 5 Common Tomato Problems (and How to Fix Them)
You planted your tomatoes a few weeks ago. They’ve grown taller, filled out with beautiful green leaves, and maybe even started flowering.
But now you’re wondering…
- Why are my tomato flowers falling off?
- Why does my plant have lots of leaves but no tomatoes?
- Why aren’t my tomatoes turning red?
- Is something wrong with my tomato plant?
The good news is that most tomato problems are caused by weather, watering, fertilizer, or pollination—not disease. Better yet, they’re usually easy to fix.
At Hassett Hardware, these are some of the most common questions we hear from Bay Area gardeners every summer. Here’s how to identify what’s happening—and what you can do about it.
Quick Tomato Troubleshooting Guide
| If your tomato plant… | The most likely cause |
| Flowers dry up and fall off | Heat stress, inconsistent watering, or too much nitrogen |
| Has lots of leaves but few flowers | Too much nitrogen fertilizer |
| Isn’t growing | Lack of sun, cool weather, inconsistent watering, or poor nutrition |
| Has flowers but very few tomatoes | Heat, poor pollination, or plant stress |
| Has green tomatoes that won’t ripen | They simply need more time and warmth |
1. Why Are My Tomato Flowers Falling Off?
If your tomato plant produces flowers that dry up and fall off before tomatoes develop, you’re experiencing blossom drop.
What Is Blossom Drop?
Blossom drop happens when the plant aborts its flowers before fruit can form. It’s one of the most common tomato problems we see during the summer.
Common Causes
- Afternoon temperatures above 90°F
- Inconsistent watering
- Heat stress
- Too much nitrogen fertilizer
When tomato plants are stressed, they focus on survival instead of producing fruit.
How to Fix It
✔ Water deeply and consistently.
✔ Water early in the morning or evening.
✔ Use a fertilizer made specifically for tomatoes rather than a high-nitrogen lawn or all-purpose fertilizer.
✔ Gently shake flowering branches every few days to help move pollen between flowers.
Bay Area Tip: Inland communities like Redwood City, Belmont and Palo Alto are more likely to experience blossom drop during July heat waves. Cooler coastal areas such as Half Moon Bay and Pacifica generally see fewer heat-related problems.
2. Why Does My Tomato Plant Have Lots of Leaves but No Flowers?
A tomato plant covered in lush green leaves may look healthy—but if it isn’t flowering, the problem is usually too much nitrogen.
Nitrogen helps plants grow leaves and stems. Too much of it encourages leafy growth instead of flowers and fruit.
Signs Your Plant Has Too Much Nitrogen
- Dark green leaves
- Thick stems
- Rapid leafy growth
- Very few flowers
- Little or no fruit
How to Fix It
Stop using high-nitrogen fertilizers.
If you’re fertilizing your lawn nearby, be careful—lawn fertilizer often contains high levels of nitrogen that can reach nearby vegetable gardens.
Instead, switch to a fertilizer formulated specifically for tomatoes, which contains the nutrients needed for flowering and fruit production.
Also make sure your plants receive at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight every day.
3. Why Isn’t My Tomato Plant Growing?
If your tomato plant seems stuck, one or more growing conditions may be limiting it.
Common Causes
- Not enough sunlight
- Cool nights or cool soil
- Inconsistent watering
- Poor soil nutrition
- Root stress
- Container that’s too small
How to Fix It
Feed your tomatoes with a tomato fertilizer throughout the growing season.
Water deeply instead of watering lightly every day.
If you’re growing tomatoes in containers, make sure the pot is large enough for the roots to continue expanding.
Healthy roots lead to healthy plants.
4. Why Do I Have Lots of Flowers but Only a Few Tomatoes?
This problem is different from blossom drop.
Sometimes flowers stay on the plant, but only a few actually develop into tomatoes.
Common Causes
- High temperatures preventing fruit set
- Too much nitrogen
- Poor pollination
- Irregular watering
- Plant stress
How to Fix It
Keep the soil consistently moist.
Switch to a tomato fertilizer if you’ve been using an all-purpose fertilizer.
Encourage pollination by gently shaking flowering branches every few days.
Planting pollinator-friendly flowers nearby can also attract more bees and improve fruit production.
5. Why Are My Tomatoes Still Green?
If your tomatoes have reached full size but haven’t started turning red, orange or yellow, don’t panic.
They’re probably just waiting for enough warmth and time to ripen.
Tomatoes typically finish growing before they begin changing color.
How to Help Tomatoes Ripen
- Continue watering consistently.
- Avoid overwatering mature plants.
- Leave tomatoes on the vine until they begin coloring naturally.
- Be patient.
Once tomatoes reach their mature size, they often ripen surprisingly quickly.
Common Tomato Growing Mistakes
Many tomato problems come down to a few simple mistakes:
- Using lawn fertilizer on vegetable gardens
- Watering too little or too often
- Planting in too much shade
- Letting soil dry out completely between waterings
- Assuming every tomato problem is caused by disease
Fortunately, most of these problems are easy to correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my tomato plant have flowers but no tomatoes?
The most common causes are heat stress, poor pollination, or excess nitrogen fertilizer.
How often should I water tomatoes?
Water deeply whenever the top inch or two of soil begins to dry. Consistent watering is more important than watering every day.
Can tomato plants recover from blossom drop?
Yes. Once temperatures cool and watering becomes more consistent, new flowers often develop into healthy tomatoes.
Why are my tomatoes taking so long to ripen?
Tomatoes need time and warm weather. Once fruit reaches its mature size, color usually follows.
Should I remove yellow leaves from my tomato plant?
Yes. Removing damaged or yellowing leaves can improve airflow and help reduce disease pressure. Be careful not to remove too much healthy foliage.
Need Help Diagnosing Your Tomato Plant?
Every summer, our team helps Bay Area gardeners solve tomato problems just like these.
If you’re not sure what’s happening, stop by your nearest Hassett Hardware with a photo of your plant. Whether it’s blossom drop, fertilizer issues, watering problems, or something else, we’re happy to help you figure it out and recommend the right products for your garden.
Happy gardening!
Suggested Internal Links
- Summer Planting in Northern California
- Choosing the Right Garden Soil
- How to Water Your Garden During a Heat Wave
- Garden Center
- Fertilizers & Plant Food
- Raised Bed Gardening
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Why Is My Tomato Plant Not Producing Tomatoes? 5 Common Problems & Easy Fixes
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Wondering why your tomato plant has flowers but no fruit, lots of leaves, or green tomatoes? Learn the five most common tomato problems and how to fix them.