If tomato plants are thriving but have no tomato fruits growing, gardeners could be making a vital mistake that's ruining their harvest09:55, 29 Jun 2026Tomatoes are a popular and rewarding crop to grow in the garden from scratch, and the summer is the best time to see them thrive. June is the beginning of tomato harvest season, and with July just around the corner, your plants should be thriving for an abundant yield.‌However, gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish explained that if the plants are thriving but not producing juicy tomatoes, gardeners could be making a very simple mistake. In a recent video, Ish shared the most common mistakes gardeners make when growing tomatoes.‌He said: “If your tomato plants are thriving but not growing any tomatoes, then there’s a few things you can do to remedy this, because chances are it’s just one simple mistake that’s stopping them from growing.”‌One often overlooked mistake keeps diverting energy away from your tomatoes, hindering their growth. Ish explained that the crops may be growing excess stems, and these can be removed to help encourage the tomatoes to thrive properly.Take a look at the plant and locate any sideshoots that may be growing. Ish explained that these sideshoots will want to “grow and grow and grow”, taking away vital nutrients from the tomatoes themselves.‌Ish said: “These sideshoots want to grow and grow and grow, which is fantastic, but it’s taking all the nutrients for growing and not focusing on growing any tomatoes.”This can be easily rectified by simply pinching off any sideshoots with your fingertips or secateurs.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌Another mistake gardeners make is not using the correct feed. In this instance, you want to use a dedicated tomato feed.This feed ought to be applied every week to every two weeks throughout the summer months. Tomato feed is rich in essential nutrients, including potassium and phosphorus, which encourage the fruits to grow larger and more succulent.All you need is a cap-full mixed in with four to five litres of water in a watering can. Apply directly onto the compost to boost the nutrients in the soil.‌Tomato feed will encourage the plant to grow more tomatoes. Ish explained that this particular feed can also be used on other fruits and vegetable crops, too.You’ll also want to make sure that the plants are adequately watered. Gardeners will want to keep the soil fairly moist during the summer months.However, you want to make sure that the soil doesn’t dry out. If the soil grows from wet to dry to wet too often, it will “stress” out the plant and result in a lack of tomatoes growing.Article continues belowIf any tomatoes do grow when this mistake is made, they will split.