We Need More Tomato Plant Pictures

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by xellos99

That is strange, you would think the ones in full sun all day would be bigger.
I also have shade for most of the afternoon because there is a large tree in the way.
I always wished that the tree was not there because I wanted full sun all day with no shade so that they would grow faster.

Your all day sun might be great for tomatoes but I think you wouldn't want the kind of all day full sun we have here in the South. Right now it's 92 (33C) and feels like 98 (36). You can just feel the sun burning down on your arms. Come to think of it, I don't blame the tomatoes for feeling better in the shade. I know I do!

[xellos99]

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

Your all day sun might be great for tomatoes but I think you wouldn't want the kind of all day full sun we have here in the South. Right now it's 92 (33C) and feels like 98 (36). You can just feel the sun burning down on your arms. Come to think of it, I don't blame the tomatoes for feeling better in the shade. I know I do!

I just read this in the book called "Tomato plant culture, in the field, greenhouse and home garden. 2nd edition.

" I have noticed that tomato plants grown outside in Georgia and South Carolina during the summer months grow and produce better when in partial shade (particularly at solar noon and after) or when under some kind of over-the-top plastic cover that partially shades the plant "

[SpookyShoe]

What GoDawgs said.

[Shrinkrap]

It's been debated, but seems the same for me near Sacramento. Here 90+ days and dry is the norm, I fill my Earthboxes three times a day, and the ones in full sun seem more likely to dry between fills, and then split. And I sometimes think they might set more fruit with afternoon shade, but I'm not sure.

On the other hand, one of the debates inspired me to check ambient temps, or of the soil surface in full sun and dappled shade, and there wasn't much difference.

[GoDawgs]

This talk of heat sure reminded me of one year where it got so hot I had to rig up shade over the tomato bed. This was back in June 2012 when I was still able to grow tomatoes in the garden. It was a nice June until the end of the month when we hit a streak we'd never had and haven't had since. It went from 90 one day and then a four day streak of 102, 109, 110, and 106, followed by nine more days of 98, 99 before the heat broke.

This is the shade I threw together over tomatoes and beans with some poles, shade cloth and cheap dollar store tennis balls:





I attached the shade cloth to the poles with some cheap tennis balls stuck over the pole ends:



The radio just now said 100 coming Sunday and 101 Monday. The tomatoes in the garden are still not to the top of the cages yet so I can just drape row cover over them.

Wow, ingenious idea on securing the shade cloth. I haven’t rigged anything over my tomatoes but my DH built individual shade protectors over some newly transplanted rose bushes. Worked really well to get them started without scorching.
Watering everything like crazy, of course.

[xellos99]

Got the fan out now to get more air flow and circulate the heat that rises to the top evenly around the plants.

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[GoDawgs]

Because of the 100 degree temps moving in tomorrow, I put some lightweight row cover over the five tomatoes in the garden last night. Maybe it will help. Nothing fancy; just attached to the cages with clothespins! I have some old bed sheets that would provide a heavier shade if y'all think that would be better. I'm open to suggestions!



I'm thinking that with their South American heritage, the tomatillos will be OK without shade. They're not tied to the stakes, just leaning on them. I imagine they'll fall over by themselves any day.

[SpookyShoe]

I have been harvesting these for about a week.

I worked out on the garden for about 5 hours today weeding and spreading mulch. Dang it was hot.

[SpookyShoe]

Smaller...JD's Special C-Tex
Larger...Cherokee Purple

Yum! They are perfect.

[Shrinkrap]

No tomatoes yet, but here are some of my dwarfs plants.

Lots of flowers though. Should be fruit soon!

[Shrinkrap]

Originally Posted by PlainJane

Lots of flowers though. Should be fruit soon!

I certainly hope so! And this is the first year I can remember that the flowers came before it got crazy hot.