Newbie tomato question

[swd12422]

Back in July, I bought a tomato plant on a whim and planted it in a big container. It had one tiny tomato already on it, and several blossoms.

We just harvested the "tomato" last week -- it had grown a little and finally ripened. It was only about 2" big, although I think the variety is a smaller fruit anyway (Better Boy, I think?). Since July, the plant has at least doubled in size, and had lots of flowers on it, but no other fruit. Is that it for the season?

We are in a very hot climate, and it gets watered every day, but is in indirect sun/shade during the hottest part of the day. Does it need more sun? All of the flowers seem to have just fallen off and then more come out, but again, no more fruit....

[kriket]

huh, I don't know. Usually better boys are pretty big. They are my faves, and can be softball sized in my garden.

The only thing I can think of would be from being in the cell pack for so long, it may have thrown off it's schedule and it doesn't know if it can make more fruit. I'm in 6a, and we are getting our last few green fruits turning red then it will be the last of the season.

[swd12422]

I could be wrong about the variety, but regardless I'd love to know how to get more tomatoes out of this plant! (The one we did harvest was DELICIOUS!)

[sidandspencersmom]

Tomatoes need cool nights to set fruit. If it's too hot at night, the flowers will drop and you will not get fruit.
The blooms will drop if daytime temperatures are below 55 degrees and blooms will not set if night temperatures exceed 75 or day temperatures exceed 92.

[swd12422]

BINGO. Okay, that makes sense, then, since it's been unusually hot here with only a few cooler (60s) nights. Day temps have been exceeding 92 with only 2-3 exceptions since May, so that would probably do it. Hopefully we'll squeeze another little crop in before the frost.... Thanks!