What Does It Mean When Tomato Plant Flowers Turn Brown?

Check foliage and flowers frequently for early detection of plant problems.

There are several reasons why a tomato blossom can turn brown and quite often drop off. Usually this is more to do with growing conditions rather than pest infestation or disease.

Blossom Drop

Flowers sometimes turn brown, wither and break off at the knuckle. Pollination has not taken place and the cause is usually dryness at the root and also in the air. Unfortunately there is no treatment, but it is preventable by watering regularly. Plants can be tapped to aid pollination.

Tomato Blight

Related to potato blight, this is a serious disease. It usually affects outdoor tomatoes in wet weather. First signs are a browning of the leaves. The disease moves rapidly and can infect the stem, fruits and blossom. Once the disease has taken hold, nothing can be done. Plants need to be removed and destroyed.

Blossom End Rot

This is a problem that appears just as the fruit begins to form. It occurs at the blossom end of the fruit, therefore giving the appearance of the flowers turning brown. As the fruits develop, a large leathery patch appears at the base of the tomato. This is caused by lack of water and is a familiar problem with plants in grow-bags.

References

• Tomato Dirt: How to Identify Tomato Problems
• Garden Action: Tomato Blight
• Vegetable MD: Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes

Resources

• Tomato Dirt: Blossom Drop