All the flowers are falling off my tomato plants, preventing the fruit from developing. I'm concerned that this could be a sign of some deficiency in the soil. What do you think?

When temperatures rise above 32°C, tomato plants become stressed. The pollen dries out and loses viability, and then the flowers drop off because they haven't been pollinated. But cool weather can also be a problem as tomatoes need temperatures above 15°C, preferably above 20°C, for pollination. The best conditions occur when night temperatures remain above 15°C.

Tomatoes are self-fertile but in order to produce fruit, the pollen needs to be transferred by wind, insects or hand.

It may help if you shake the flowers gently to release the pollen.

Tomato flowers can also fall prematurely if the soil is dry. Keep your tomato plants evenly watered and help protect their shallow roots by mulching with lucerne, straw or sugar-cane mulch. The soil should be slightly acidic and well-drained, with plenty of added organic matter. Regular application of a liquid tomato fertiliser and seaweed solution as the plants are growing is beneficial.

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