Weather is HOT, do u cover ur tomato plants?

bluee19 · April 28, 2015

Today is 93 degrees in my area.

Do you cover your tomato plants? If yes, what do you cover them with? I was thinking my tomato plants need those mini umbrellas that you put on your hats.

rnewste · April 28, 2015

Out here in California it is essential to partially cover them if you are in direct Sun and high temps. I use a section of 70% Cooleraoo fabric stapled to 1x2 boards, then fastened to the cage tops with zip-ties:

Easy to put on and off when needed.

Raybo

bluee19 · April 28, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

Out here in California it is essential to partially cover them if you are in direct Sun and high temps. I use a section of 70% Cooleraoo fabric stapled to 1x2 boards, then fastened to the cage tops with zip-ties:

Easy to put on and off when needed.

Raybo

Thank you for your quick response Raybo!! I love your tomatoes by the way. Its absolutely breathtaking!!!

dustee1 · April 28, 2015

As a matter of fact we just finished installing our shade cloth. I came in the house, saw your post & felt obligated to post a few pics. So I went outside & snapped a couple .

BTW It's only going to be 92F here in North Las Vegas tomorrow.

Ted

Dewayne mater · April 29, 2015

My rule for shade cloth is to put it up when it is consistently going to be 92 or higher for a high temp. When that occurs varies between May 15 to early June around here. A day or two of 92 is no big deal in my experience, but, if consistently that temp or more, that is too hot for happy maters. I use 50% sun shade cloth for my bed that gets full afternoon sun. For containers, I move them to an area that is shaded by 3 p.m. by the house and that does the trick at least as effectively as shade cloth. Good luck.

Dewayne Mater

BigVanVader · April 29, 2015

I also plant mine in an area that is shaded by around 3:00, It seems to help.

heirloomtomaguy · April 29, 2015

It should only be in the 90s for 2 days then back into the 70s i wouldn't bother yet. Keep the soil moist so the roots do not fry and they will be fine. Ughhhh 90s in april. I know your pain.

AZGardener · April 30, 2015

Well speaking of hot... It's supposed to be 101 today and 102 tmo. It's then supposed to "cool" back down to 89 in the coming days so I'm not covering yet.... I just move my umbrella around the garden for cooling... I need to do a deep watering today though with fish emulsion. As long as we stay under 95 , my season will hang on. I will be getting my shade up soon though.

Tracydr · April 30, 2015

So glad we left AZ!

AZGardener · April 30, 2015

Lol

Thanks Tracydr-rub it in

April 28, 2015	#1
bluee19 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: CA Posts: 214	Weather is HOT, do u cover ur tomato plants? Today is 93 degrees in my area. Do you cover your tomato plants? If yes, what do you cover them with? I was thinking my tomato plants need those mini umbrellas that you put on your hats. __________________ Take care, Bluee19

April 29, 2015	#7
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	It should only be in the 90s for 2 days then back into the 70s i wouldn't bother yet. Keep the soil moist so the roots do not fry and they will be fine. Ughhhh 90s in april. I know your pain. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

April 30, 2015	#8
AZGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Zone 9b Phoenix,AZ Posts: 390	Well speaking of hot... It's supposed to be 101 today and 102 tmo. It's then supposed to "cool" back down to 89 in the coming days so I'm not covering yet.... I just move my umbrella around the garden for cooling... I need to do a deep watering today though with fish emulsion. As long as we stay under 95 , my season will hang on. I will be getting my shade up soon though. __________________ Kelly from Phx, AZ Toes and Tomatoes on FB

April 30, 2015	#10
AZGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Zone 9b Phoenix,AZ Posts: 390	Lol Thanks Tracydr-rub it in __________________ Kelly from Phx, AZ Toes and Tomatoes on FB

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April 28, 2015	#2
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Out here in California it is essential to partially cover them if you are in direct Sun and high temps. I use a section of 70% Cooleraoo fabric stapled to 1x2 boards, then fastened to the cage tops with zip-ties: Easy to put on and off when needed. Raybo

April 28, 2015	#4
dustee1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: North Las Vegas Posts: 38	As a matter of fact we just finished installing our shade cloth. I came in the house, saw your post & felt obligated to post a few pics. So I went outside & snapped a couple . BTW It's only going to be 92F here in North Las Vegas tomorrow. Ted

April 29, 2015	#5
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	My rule for shade cloth is to put it up when it is consistently going to be 92 or higher for a high temp. When that occurs varies between May 15 to early June around here. A day or two of 92 is no big deal in my experience, but, if consistently that temp or more, that is too hot for happy maters. I use 50% sun shade cloth for my bed that gets full afternoon sun. For containers, I move them to an area that is shaded by 3 p.m. by the house and that does the trick at least as effectively as shade cloth. Good luck. Dewayne Mater

April 29, 2015	#6
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	I also plant mine in an area that is shaded by around 3:00, It seems to help.

April 30, 2015	#9
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	So glad we left AZ!