Why do tomato flowers curl back?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I'm assuming its just a heat/direct light response but the only info I can find is about leaves nothing really dealing with why the pedals curl back behind the flower.

I'm sure under watering could cause this as well but for this situation I don't believe that would be the cause.

Once this happens does it stop or lower pollination rates?

Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
7 years ago
Got a pic? If I'm envisioning it right, then that's just what they do and there is nothing out of the ordinary.

Rodney
growlove21 thanked theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
7 years ago
A lot of tomato flower petals curl back and then close and shrivel.

Why ? I don't know. That is the way it is.

Sey
growlove21 thanked Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
Related Discussions
Thumping tomatoes flowers......why?
Q
Comments (15)
Coincidence is easily accounted for by running a statistically significant number of tests. Thump all of the flowers on every other tomato plant (assuming you have at least a couple dozen plants) and check out plant yields. If you don't have that many plants, you could thump every other flower on every plant and mark those flowers off with something that won't affect development to indicate which ones you thumped. If anyone does this, I'll run the numbers to figure out the statistical significance of the results.
...See More
Why do some of my tomatoes have flowers?
Q
Comments (12)
An interesting fact is that tomatoes have been considered a vegatable for years when they are actually a FRUIT. Just like oranges, apples, pears, and cherries (to name a few), the trees will produce blooms which will become pollinated and then the bloom will be replaced with a small fruit that grows to the maturity of those we see in grocery stores and our gardens. Tomatoes (and peppers) are self pollinating. That means the pollen in already there inside the bloom. To achieve pollination, the bloom has only to be vibrated or shaken. This dislodges some of the pollen. This vibrating/shaking usually happens in the garden with wind, buzzing beas, or us tomato growers walking thru the garden and gently shaking the blooms. Ted
...See More
Why do Hyacinths flowers come back so small?
Q
Comments (16)
You could plant them in the ground now but there's no reason to. The ones you buy in bud in the spring have been forced for indoor display s you might as well use them for that. I don't really understand your sentence "I let the green leaves die off at frost time but cut the flower stalk once it's spent." The green leaves die off naturally as Spring progresses and Summer starts, so I don't really get what you mean by "frost time." I think that maybe the big difference is that in my garden there is never any drought. The bulb foliage dies down over a period of weeks naturally, not through lack of water. I never feed them or amend the planting holes. If you want hyacinths in the garden and planting out forced ones isn't working for you just plant bulbs outdoors in the Autumn.
...See More
Help: Tomato leaves curling and flowers drying up
Q
Comments (33)
Note that spraying twice a day with water opens you up for fungal disease. That might be a good tactic in a desert environment, but I wouldn't do it in Queens. A wash-down at first is great, then I would spray something like neem or permethrin. Then repeat that every few days for a while. If your plants survive the next couple of weeks, the problem should subside as the weather gets less conducive to the mites.
...See More
growlove21
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I went back out on my balcony and all the flowers look normal now that they are shaded for the last few hours of daylight. I managed to find a picture close to what the flowers looked like. Mine were more curled though even touching the stem in some spots. Here's a better pic http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5376/1939/1600/tomatobuds.jpg
digdirt2
7 years ago
Just as with most flowers the age of the bloom controls the petal location. A rose bloom is a good example and the changes are more visible.

They begin closed, gradually open over time as they age until fully expanded, begin to wilt, and then dry up and fall off. It really has no effect on pollination in self-fertile blooms like tomatoes as in many cases they are already pollinated before they even open.

Dave
growlove21 thanked digdirt2

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES 20 Favorite Flowers for Butterflies and Bouquets

By Marianne Lipanovich

Discover perennials and annuals that do double duty as butterfly magnets and versatile cut flowers

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Oh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Vegetables and Flowers Mix in Beautiful Edible Gardens

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Ornamentals, meet your edible garden mates. We know you'll get along just beautifully

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES 15 Native Flowers That Feed Native Bees

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

These perennials offer superfood to hundreds of bees and are gorgeous in their own right

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Attract Hummingbirds and Bees With These Beautiful Summer Flowers

By Annie Thornton

Roll out a welcome mat for pollinators to keep your landscape in balance and thriving

Full Story

145

CONTAINER GARDENS 7 Deer-Resistant Flowers for Your Summer Containers

By Kim Gamel

Grow these as protection for edibles or just for their colorful beauty — deer might not like them, but everyone else will

Full Story

By Marianne Lipanovich

Fall planting: Delight the eye through 3 seasons with bright flowers placed just right. Late summer is the time to plan

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Beautiful Flowers and Foliage From Dedicated Backyard Gardeners

By Stacy Briscoe

From lawn daisies to topiaries, Houzz users share their backyard beauties

Full Story

SOUTHWEST GARDENING 10 Flowering Vines for Southwestern Gardens

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

These resilient, adaptable plants thrive in the region’s extreme climate and provide a variety of garden benefits

Full Story

Why do tomato flowers curl back?

Comments (4)

theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

Related Discussions

growlove21
Original Author

digdirt2

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Why do tomato flowers curl back?

Comments (4)

theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

Related Discussions

growlove21Original Author

digdirt2

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

growlove21
Original Author