Keep the plant healthy and it will resume flowering once the weather changes.
German Johnson tomato plants are indeterminate heirloom plants with vigorous, extravagant growth and large, beefsteak tomatoes. The fruits are known for their rich flavor and deep red coloring with yellow around the ribs. All tomatoes are heat sensitive and drop blossoms when temperatures become too hot or too cold. German tomatoes, and other heirloom types, are more prone to blossom drop than hybrids. Does this Spark an idea?
Weather Conditions
German tomatoes thrive under mild weather conditions with temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They begin to drop blossoms if the temperature drops below 55 F or rises above 85 F for more than a few days. Prolonged rainy, cool weather also causes the blossoms to drop. The plant will resume blossoming and fruit set as soon as the weather changes.
Additional Causes
Windy weather can interfere with pollination. Water stress and too much shade may cause the flowers of German tomato plants to fall. Overfertilizing tomato plants is a less common reason for blossom drop.
Solutions
Cover German tomatoes after planting with plastic water-filled cloches. These cloches act as minigreenhouses, stabilizing temperatures and keeping the plant warm. Remove them when daytime temperatures are warm and stable. Black plastic mulch laid over the soil also helps keep the plant warmer. Spray blossoms with blossom set spray. These plant hormone sprays cause pollination to occur without bees. They do not work during hot weather, but may be effective during cold, rainy weather. Plant German tomatoes where they will receive full sun and water them as needed to keep the soil evenly moist. Follow package directions to fertilize the plants.
Plant Varieties
Gardeners love the flavor of German tomatoes, but if blossom drop is a consistent problem, try varieties bred to be more tolerant of variations in temperature. Gold Nugget, Oregon Spring, Oregon Star and Legend were developed at Oregon State University. These cherry type tomatoes tolerate a wide range of summer temperatures. In Southern regions, try heat-tolerant varieties, such as Mountain Crest, Sunbeam and Sunmaster.
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