Why Tomatoes Stop Producing in the Heat (And How to Get More Tomatoes)
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Learn why tomatoes stop producing in the heat and simple ways to help your tomato plants keep setting fruit all summer long.
You water your tomato plants faithfully, they’re tall and healthy, and they’re covered in blooms. Then suddenly, the new tomatoes stop coming.
If you’ve ever wondered why your tomatoes stop producing in the middle of summer, you’re not alone. It can be frustrating to watch beautiful plants seem to stall just when you were expecting your biggest harvest.
The good news is that your plants probably aren’t dying. They’re simply responding to hot weather.
Here’s why tomato plants stop producing in the heat—and what you can do to keep the harvest going.
Why Do Tomatoes Stop Producing in Hot Weather?
Tomatoes are warm-season plants, but they have limits.
The ideal daytime temperature for tomatoes is between 70°F and 85°F, with nighttime temperatures between 55°F and 70°F. Once temperatures consistently climb above those ranges, the plants become stressed.
The biggest problem isn’t usually the plant itself—it’s the flowers.
Heat Prevents Tomatoes from Setting Fruit
When daytime temperatures rise above 90°F or nighttime temperatures stay above 75°F, tomato pollen becomes less viable. It becomes somewhat “sticky” and isn’t able to move from flower to flower.
Without healthy pollen, flowers can’t be pollinated successfully, which means no new tomatoes develop.
Instead, you’ll notice:
- Flowers falling off the plant
- Blooms drying up
- Lots of green leaves, but very little fruit
- Existing tomatoes are continuing to ripen while a few new ones appear
This is called blossom drop, and it’s one of the most common reasons tomatoes stop producing during summer.
Signs Your Tomatoes Are Heat Stressed
Besides poor fruit production, you may notice:
- Leaves curling upward
- Wilting during the hottest part of the day
- Dry soil that seems impossible to keep moist
- Sunscald on fruit
- Smaller tomatoes than usual
- Slow growth
Most of these symptoms improve once temperatures become more moderate.
How to Help Tomatoes Keep Producing
While you can’t control the weather, you can reduce stress on your plants.
Water Deeply
Tomatoes prefer deep watering instead of frequent shallow watering.
Aim to water the soil—not the leaves—so moisture reaches the roots.
Consistent moisture helps prevent additional stress and reduces problems like blossom end rot.
Mulch Generously
Add 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around your plants.
Good choices include:
- Straw
- Shredded leaves
- Grass clippings (chemical-free)
- Compost
- Pine needles
Mulch helps keep roots cooler, reduces evaporation, and minimizes temperature swings.
Provide Afternoon Shade
If temperatures regularly reach the upper 90s or over 100°F, temporary shade can make a huge difference.
Shade cloth that blocks 30–40% of sunlight works well, especially during the hottest afternoon hours.
Even a simple umbrella or lightweight fabric can help protect flowers from extreme heat.
Another thing you can do is plant tall crops like corn to the west side of the tomato plants so they shade them during the afternoon heat.
Skip Heavy Fertilizing
When plants are stressed, adding lots of fertilizer often encourages leafy growth instead of tomatoes.
Unless your plants show nutrient deficiencies, wait until temperatures cool before applying additional fertilizer.
Harvest Often
Pick tomatoes as soon as they begin to ripen.
Removing ripe fruit encourages the plant to put energy into producing more tomatoes instead of maintaining mature ones.
Tomatoes also finish ripening beautifully indoors.
Choose Heat-Tolerant Varieties
Some tomato varieties handle hot summers better than others.
Look for varieties known for heat tolerance if you garden where summers are especially hot.
Good choices include:
- Heatmaster
- Solar Fire
- Phoenix
- Arkansas Traveler
- Celebrity
- Porter
- Juliet
These varieties continue to set fruit better during periods of high temperatures than many heirloom varieties.
Don’t Give Up on Your Plants
One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is pulling tomato plants too early.
As temperatures cool in late summer or early fall, many healthy tomato plants begin flowering and producing again.
In areas with long growing seasons, the fall harvest is often just as productive as the spring crop. And it’s super fun to get production again late in the year. Like Christmas time almost.
Keep watering, mulching, and caring for your plants, and you may be rewarded with another flush of tomatoes once cooler nights return.
Check out this month by month vegetable gardening guide for when to plant which crops.
Can You Pollinate Tomatoes Yourself?
Sometimes.
Early in the morning, gently shake tomato cages or lightly tap flower clusters.
Tomatoes are self-pollinating, so vibration helps move pollen between the flower parts.
However, if temperatures are simply too high and the pollen has become sterile, hand pollination won’t solve the problem until the weather improves.
The Bottom Line
If your tomatoes have stopped producing in the heat, don’t panic.
High temperatures often prevent flowers from developing into fruit, even on healthy plants. By keeping the soil consistently moist, mulching well, providing afternoon shade, and avoiding unnecessary stress, you can help your plants survive the hottest part of summer.
With a little patience, many tomato plants bounce back as soon as cooler weather returns—rewarding you with another delicious harvest before the season ends.
Growing Tomatoes
For more ideas on growing tomatoes, check these out:
