Problem w/ blooms dropping from Branywine tomato

[sandih]

All my tomatoes look beautiful right now with the exception of the Brandywine. The plant itself looks very healthy, no yellowing leave or visible pest problem but the blooms keep dropping off before the fruit can set. I have grown Branywines before, actually every year, and never have had this problem. Planted to Howard's specs in a very fertile organic garden and they get foliar fed every few weeks with Bioform.

Can anyone give me other suggestions to try?

[CaptainCompostAL]

Did you plant them with bone meal mixed in your composted topsoil?
All tomotaes need extra natural calcium and phosphourus for fruit production and foliage health.

I also sprinkle a little calcium and magnesium in the form of dolomotic limestone in my composted topsoil near my tomotoes regardless of soil pH, because all tomato plants need calcium and magnesium for extra foliage growth and health. Besides compost buffers local soil pH near plant roots. A little dash of Epsom salt in a diluted soil drench form also is another way to get extra magnesium for plant health in the soil.

What about corn meal? Did you try it mixed in the soil or as a foliar spray?
Corn meal is a generic fungicide and protein fertilizer for tomatoes.

Happy Gardening!

[sandih]

I will try those things, thank you!

[sandih]

Is dolomotic limestone something easily found at a good nursery like Redentas?

[CaptainCompostAL]

I don't know. Here in Alabama dolomitic limestone is easy to find in 50 lb bags anywhere at any garden center. Most of our native soil in this state is hard acidic clay.

However in some parts of the USA, limestone may not be easy to find, because some regions have naturally high pH soil, so there is no need for any liming. When native soil pH is over 7.0, many folks use calcium sulfate products (gypsum) in their composting techniques.

Happy Gardening!