End Stems Holding Tomato Flowers Braking Off

I have a tumbling tomato plant, which is struggling in this years weather. Despite the soil in the basket being damp the plant looks dry and is not thriving. Every flower dries up then the end of the stem holding the flower breaks off. I have 3 other very healthy tomato plants u see cover but I’ve noticed that each of the tiny fruits left, once the flower has dropped off are on stems that are just bent and break off. HELP! They’ve been fed and watered regularly but not too much. What is wrong? In the photos not sure if you can see how each stem is at a 90 degree angle. It’s very green around the bend point but browner either side and brittle. In the healthier plants they are just bent at an angle but if you touch them they just break off. I’ve circled some examples but there are many like this on the plants. So as soon as the flowers die off the tiny fruit juts breaks off. Thanks

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1 Comment To "End Stems Holding Tomato Flowers Braking Off"

#1 Comment By GKH_Susan On 06/06/2025 @ 6:08 pm

It could be a pollination problem. Tomatoes are wind or bee pollinated. The plants look kind of crowded so there may not be enough air movement. Do your plants get at least 5 hours of sun a day? Any less is detrimental to the plant.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-blossoms-no-tomatoes.htm ^[1]

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Tomato%20Diseases45.pdf ^[2]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-plant-problems.htm ^[3]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/pollinate-tomatoes.htm ^[4]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/purpose-of-hand-pollination.htm ^[5]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/tomato/how-to-make-a-tomato-hanging-basket ^[6]

Thrips also can cause fruit to drop:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-thrips.htm ^[7]

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[1] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-blossoms-no-tomatoes.htm: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-blossoms-no-tomatoes.htm

[2] https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Tomato%20Diseases45.pdf: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Tomato%20Diseases45.pdf

[3] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-plant-problems.htm: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-plant-problems.htm

[4] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/pollinate-tomatoes.htm: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/pollinate-tomatoes.htm

[5] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/purpose-of-hand-pollination.htm: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/purpose-of-hand-pollination.htm

[6] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/tomato/how-to-make-a-tomato-hanging-basket: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/tomato/how-to-make-a-tomato-hanging-basket

[7] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-thrips.htm: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-thrips.htm

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