Desert Fall Planting Advice

MarianneW · May 19, 2016

I know I'm not the only desert/subtropical gardener here. I consider my garden more subtropical, in that I grow limes without ever having to cover them and there's flocks of parrots flying around.

Anyway, the last few fall seasons have been a total bust for tomatoes. It seems like it went from 105f to 40f in two weeks last fall. I got zero ripe tomatoes. The fall before that wasn't much better, I don't think I got much either. But, this year we're supposed to have normal to La Niña fall & winter. Should I give fall tomatoes another go this year? Decent chance of getting something to ripen?

The only reason for not doing it is I can grow greens in the tomato spots for the fall. Sure, the tomatoes survive the winter & do great in the spring, but so do the seedlings I plant out in the spring. Anyway. Thoughts?

Mushimi · May 19, 2016

I'm planning on starting some winter tomatoes here in probably July, but mine usually do produce throughout the winter. I only do two or three plants and devote the rest of my garden to cool weather crops. If I were you I would, but it sounds like your winters are harsher than mine, so if I were you there, maybe I wouldn't? Or maybe I'd try to rig up some temporary individual tomato greenhouses if I really wanted some ripe winter goodness.

Not terribly helpful I know.

MarianneW · May 19, 2016

I think I've talked myself into a few plants to see how it goes. I get marginally colder than you, my nights dip below 55f for about 2-ish months normally but this year it was more like 4, as was last year and I think the year prior. Not cold enough to kill but enough to mean everything sat. But, if it is like 2013/2014 fall & winter, I'll regret not planting some tomatoes. Eh, I think I'll be brave & take a chance with 2.

AlittleSalt · May 19, 2016

I'm growing a tomato variety that I've read does well in the desert, "Punta Banda" It is a short plant 24" that produces a lot of tomatoes. So far, they look good here in Texas.

MarianneW · May 19, 2016

Yeah, that is a Native Seed/SEARCH one and supposed to go further into the summer than average. I generally don't bother much with summer tomatoes since I have stretches at a time where the nighttime low is higher than the max fruiting temp of tomatoes and normally just grow in the spring for best results. Do those Punta Banda at least taste good? I always look at the seed packs & wonder.

AlittleSalt · May 19, 2016

I'm waiting for them to mature. As soon as they do, I'll let you know.

Mushimi · May 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarianneW

I think I've talked myself into a few plants to see how it goes. I get marginally colder than you, my nights dip below 55f for about 2-ish months normally but this year it was more like 4, as was last year and I think the year prior. Not cold enough to kill but enough to mean everything sat. But, if it is like 2013/2014 fall & winter, I'll regret not planting some tomatoes. Eh, I think I'll be brave & take a chance with 2.

Oh if you only get that cold I definitely would. Our night temperatures still aren't out of the mid 50's reliably and we usually get a month or two in the mid-high 40's on and off midwinter. Not too different then. I've been starting my winter tomatoes at different times to try to find the sweet spot where they're not being planted in the dead hot nastiness of summer but are still big enough to produce while just sitting there in the coldest part of winter. It's all timing, I think, I just have to figure it out.

Anyway, I'll be a bad influence - go for it!

MarianneW · May 20, 2016

For my spring seedlings, starting at Thanksgiving worked great this last year. Everything was ready to plant at February 1, when it wasn't so bad out.

Lol, our "bad" weather in the winter.

Ok, I think I'm talked into 2 plants just to give fall tomatoes another try but leaving room for more fall carrots & beets. Compromise--I have to decide soon anyway, in a few weeks it will be time to start the seedlings!

Mushimi · May 21, 2016

Ah, yes, I do it differently than you, then. I get mine going when it's still warm enough in the summer for them to grow, so they're adult sized and producing in the "bad" part of winter. We don't get frost here other than once in a blue moon, though, so that definitely makes a difference.

Hope you update on your winter tomatoes!

Tracydr · May 21, 2016

I never had luck with fall tomatoes in AZ.
My peppers and eggplants were perennial and I would get huge fall crops.
I used the space from tomatoes to plant lettuce,kale,garlic,celery,carrots,radishes,you name it. The lettuce did incredible and actually,my fall/winter gardens were my easiest and best.

Tracydr · May 21, 2016

If anything I'd do some dwarf tomatoes in pots that you can easily cover or even add lights to protect.

AlittleSalt · May 21, 2016

This is one of our Punta Banda plants. I think one tomato will be ready to taste in 2 days. I know this variety could be grown in a pot.

The white looking stuff on the leaves is Daconil I sprayed on them late yesterday.

MarianneW · May 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

I never had luck with fall tomatoes in AZ.
My peppers and eggplants were perennial and I would get huge fall crops.
I used the space from tomatoes to plant lettuce,kale,garlic,celery,carrots,radishes,you name it. The lettuce did incredible and actually,my fall/winter gardens were my easiest and best.

That's my usual experience too. The lettuce is fantastic, I'm going to plant as much as I can this year. I consider my chile plants to be permaculture and don't worry because they always come through. The tomatoes are the only unpredictable plants, the extension says to plant some but unless it is a mild fall & winter, they just take up space. With a regular-to-La Niña winter it might be ok, so I'll put out two and use most of the space for root vegetables. I know those will do great.

habanero · May 21, 2016

I have a crazy idea that might work for you, Marianne. Around the middle of July, toss a few seeds of a short season determinate in the space you use for tomatoes. Cover with mulch, keep the soil from drying out and check every once in a while. if it works, you will need to shade the seedlings. Or, you can seed start inside as well, like I do. I usually get a few tomatoes by the end of October. This year, being 90 in Feb/March gave me a headstart. Very weird weather this year. Good luck!

MarianneW · May 22, 2016

I actually have a determinate volunteer in terrible soil that's been going for 18 months that I was considering saving seeds and planting for the fall. It has fantastic tomatoes, parthenocarpic when odd temps, seems very resistant to wilt fungus & phytopythera, and just won't die. This last fall, it had a good set during the few mild weeks but they wouldn't ripen on the vine because it was just too cold. After they got some hail damage I ripened them on the counter. It is probably a good one to plant for the fall this year.

May 19, 2016	#1
MarianneW Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Arizona Posts: 153	Desert Fall Planting Advice I know I'm not the only desert/subtropical gardener here. I consider my garden more subtropical, in that I grow limes without ever having to cover them and there's flocks of parrots flying around. Anyway, the last few fall seasons have been a total bust for tomatoes. It seems like it went from 105f to 40f in two weeks last fall. I got zero ripe tomatoes. The fall before that wasn't much better, I don't think I got much either. But, this year we're supposed to have normal to La Niña fall & winter. Should I give fall tomatoes another go this year? Decent chance of getting something to ripen? The only reason for not doing it is I can grow greens in the tomato spots for the fall. Sure, the tomatoes survive the winter & do great in the spring, but so do the seedlings I plant out in the spring. Anyway. Thoughts?

May 19, 2016	#4
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I'm growing a tomato variety that I've read does well in the desert, "Punta Banda" It is a short plant 24" that produces a lot of tomatoes. So far, they look good here in Texas. Last edited by AlittleSalt; May 21, 2016 at 12:18 PM. Reason: a

May 19, 2016	#2
Mushimi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego County Posts: 22	I'm planning on starting some winter tomatoes here in probably July, but mine usually do produce throughout the winter. I only do two or three plants and devote the rest of my garden to cool weather crops. If I were you I would, but it sounds like your winters are harsher than mine, so if I were you there, maybe I wouldn't? Or maybe I'd try to rig up some temporary individual tomato greenhouses if I really wanted some ripe winter goodness. Not terribly helpful I know.

May 20, 2016	#8
MarianneW Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Arizona Posts: 153	For my spring seedlings, starting at Thanksgiving worked great this last year. Everything was ready to plant at February 1, when it wasn't so bad out. Lol, our "bad" weather in the winter. Ok, I think I'm talked into 2 plants just to give fall tomatoes another try but leaving room for more fall carrots & beets. Compromise--I have to decide soon anyway, in a few weeks it will be time to start the seedlings!

May 21, 2016	#9
Mushimi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego County Posts: 22	Ah, yes, I do it differently than you, then. I get mine going when it's still warm enough in the summer for them to grow, so they're adult sized and producing in the "bad" part of winter. We don't get frost here other than once in a blue moon, though, so that definitely makes a difference. Hope you update on your winter tomatoes!

May 21, 2016	#10
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I never had luck with fall tomatoes in AZ. My peppers and eggplants were perennial and I would get huge fall crops. I used the space from tomatoes to plant lettuce,kale,garlic,celery,carrots,radishes,you name it. The lettuce did incredible and actually,my fall/winter gardens were my easiest and best.

May 21, 2016	#14
habanero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: phoenix az Posts: 21	I have a crazy idea that might work for you, Marianne. Around the middle of July, toss a few seeds of a short season determinate in the space you use for tomatoes. Cover with mulch, keep the soil from drying out and check every once in a while. if it works, you will need to shade the seedlings. Or, you can seed start inside as well, like I do. I usually get a few tomatoes by the end of October. This year, being 90 in Feb/March gave me a headstart. Very weird weather this year. Good luck!

May 22, 2016	#15
MarianneW Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Arizona Posts: 153	I actually have a determinate volunteer in terrible soil that's been going for 18 months that I was considering saving seeds and planting for the fall. It has fantastic tomatoes, parthenocarpic when odd temps, seems very resistant to wilt fungus & phytopythera, and just won't die. This last fall, it had a good set during the few mild weeks but they wouldn't ripen on the vine because it was just too cold. After they got some hail damage I ripened them on the counter. It is probably a good one to plant for the fall this year.