California Heat - Tomato Report

aclum · May 15, 2014

Hi,

Thinking of and wishing for all the best for our friends in the red flag and fire zones in CA right now!!

Just a brief observation on the weather here in Merced in regard to my tomato beds.....

My beds are shaded by about 30% shade aluminet and the soil is covered by perforated silver on black plastic mulch. I've got a remote temp/humidity sensor suspended about 1 foot above the soil/silver mulch in one of the beds.

For the record.. at 4pm, Wunderground gives the temp at the weather station closest to our house at 99.7 degrees. My remote garden sensor gives the temp as 110.1 degrees with 1% humidity. Soil temp (with an instant read meat thermometer) is 80 degrees 5" down and 82 degrees at 3" down.

I did some watering yesterday and this morning and no signs of wilt or distress in the tomatoes - yet (knock on wood!!).

FWIW,
Anne

May 15, 2014	#1
aclum Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Merced, CA Posts: 832	California Heat - Tomato Report Hi, Thinking of and wishing for all the best for our friends in the red flag and fire zones in CA right now!! Just a brief observation on the weather here in Merced in regard to my tomato beds..... My beds are shaded by about 30% shade aluminet and the soil is covered by perforated silver on black plastic mulch. I've got a remote temp/humidity sensor suspended about 1 foot above the soil/silver mulch in one of the beds. For the record.. at 4pm, Wunderground gives the temp at the weather station closest to our house at 99.7 degrees. My remote garden sensor gives the temp as 110.1 degrees with 1% humidity. Soil temp (with an instant read meat thermometer) is 80 degrees 5" down and 82 degrees at 3" down. I did some watering yesterday and this morning and no signs of wilt or distress in the tomatoes - yet (knock on wood!!). FWIW, Anne