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Summer Tomato Troubles? Here’s How to Get Your Harvest Back on Track

Your tomato plants may have started the season strong, but as summer temperatures climb across the Bay Area, it’s common for a few problems to appear. The good news? Most tomato issues are easy to identify—and even easier to fix.

Here are three common summer tomato challenges and what you can do about them.

Black, Sunken Spots on the Bottom of Tomatoes

The Cause: Blossom End Rot

If the bottom of your tomatoes develops a dark, leathery spot, you’re likely dealing with Blossom End Rot. While it may look like a disease, it is actually caused by a calcium deficiency within the developing fruit. It is often triggered by inconsistent watering rather than a lack of calcium in the soil.

The Solution

• Keep the soil evenly moist by watering consistently, especially during heat waves.
• Apply a calcium supplement to support developing fruit.
• Add mulch around plants to help regulate soil moisture and reduce evaporation.

Healthy watering habits combined with calcium support can help prevent future fruit from developing Blossom End Rot.

Birds Are Beating You to the Harvest

The Cause: Curious and Hungry Birds

Just when your tomatoes begin to ripen, birds often decide they are ready too.

The Solution

Reflective Bird Scare Tape is a simple, effective deterrent. As the tape moves in the breeze, it reflects sunlight and creates movement that encourages birds to look elsewhere for an easy meal—all without harming them.

Hang several strips around your tomato plants before the fruit fully ripens for the best results.

Lots of Green Growth, But Very Few Tomatoes

The Cause: Plants Need a Bloom Boost

If your tomato plants are lush and healthy but are not setting much fruit, summer heat can interfere with pollination and flower production.

The Solution

Apply Bonide Blossom Set directly to open blossoms. This easy-to-use spray helps encourage blossoms to develop into fruit, supporting tomato production during periods of warm weather when natural pollination may slow down.

For continued production, feed your tomatoes regularly with a fertilizer formulated for fruiting vegetables. Avoid using too much nitrogen, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.

Need Help Diagnosing Your Tomatoes?

Whether you are seeing curled leaves, yellowing foliage, cracked fruit, or one of the issues above, our knowledgeable team is here to help. Bring in a photo—or even a leaf or tomato—and we’ll help you identify the problem and recommend the right solution.

Visit your neighborhood SummerWinds Nursery and let’s get your tomato harvest back on track!