Fall planting woes

b54red · August 4, 2010

Is anyone else running into a major problem getting their fall tomatoes into the garden?
I usually plant out most of my fall tomatoes in the last week of July and the first week of August; but this is turning out to be very difficult this year. We've been having temps hovering around 100 with humidity above 80 for the past couple of weeks with very warm nights. The only rain I've had was a quick shower that didn't do anything to cool my soil down.
I set out some plants two weeks ago and lost most of them despite planting late in the day and watering good. I have a bunch of seedlings ready to go if we can just get a little break in the heat. After the experience with the seedlings I put out last when it was a little cooler, I'm leaning toward waiting longer and taking my chances with an early freeze. The other big problem with waiting is keeping the seedlings alive in the heat; if I forget to water just one day they will all be dead.

veggie babe · August 4, 2010

I feel your pain, I planted mine 1 week ago and I have lost about 1/3 of my plants. I have replacements and plan to replace the dead plants this morning. I planted Mom's a couple days earlier, hers look great. The difference is she had 4 cloudy days and almost 4" of rain right after I set hers out. This time of year you never know if you will be the lucky one getting the rain or not, I didn't.

And to punish myself further, I planted yellow cabbage collards and Morris heading collard seed yesterday.

Just think positive and go for it,

Neva

pinakbet · August 5, 2010

I can relate. Here, we experienced a very dry season from march-may. temps reaching as high as 39C. flowers keep on falling. Most of my plants didn't survive..
Right now is the total opposite... very wet season.

veggie babe · August 6, 2010

to garden is like gambling, you never know if you will hit the jack pot or not.

We just keep trying.

Neva

Timmah! · August 6, 2010

It's been the hottest June & July since records have been kept around here. Day before yesterday was the hottest it's ever been on that day. Plants aren't growing as well as I'd like, but doing well considering the circumstance. Slipped up on my spraying regimen & the spots started spreading very quickly. Sprayed Exel one day, & Actinovate 2 days later & it put a halt to the problem. xD

August 4, 2010	#1
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Fall planting woes Is anyone else running into a major problem getting their fall tomatoes into the garden? I usually plant out most of my fall tomatoes in the last week of July and the first week of August; but this is turning out to be very difficult this year. We've been having temps hovering around 100 with humidity above 80 for the past couple of weeks with very warm nights. The only rain I've had was a quick shower that didn't do anything to cool my soil down. I set out some plants two weeks ago and lost most of them despite planting late in the day and watering good. I have a bunch of seedlings ready to go if we can just get a little break in the heat. After the experience with the seedlings I put out last when it was a little cooler, I'm leaning toward waiting longer and taking my chances with an early freeze. The other big problem with waiting is keeping the seedlings alive in the heat; if I forget to water just one day they will all be dead.

August 4, 2010	#2
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	I feel your pain, I planted mine 1 week ago and I have lost about 1/3 of my plants. I have replacements and plan to replace the dead plants this morning. I planted Mom's a couple days earlier, hers look great. The difference is she had 4 cloudy days and almost 4" of rain right after I set hers out. This time of year you never know if you will be the lucky one getting the rain or not, I didn't. And to punish myself further, I planted yellow cabbage collards and Morris heading collard seed yesterday. Just think positive and go for it, Neva

August 5, 2010	#3
pinakbet Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pearl of the Orient Posts: 333	I can relate. Here, we experienced a very dry season from march-may. temps reaching as high as 39C. flowers keep on falling. Most of my plants didn't survive.. Right now is the total opposite... very wet season.

August 6, 2010	#4
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	to garden is like gambling, you never know if you will hit the jack pot or not. We just keep trying. Neva

August 6, 2010	#5
Timmah! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elizabethtown, Kentucky 6a Posts: 754	It's been the hottest June & July since records have been kept around here. Day before yesterday was the hottest it's ever been on that day. Plants aren't growing as well as I'd like, but doing well considering the circumstance. Slipped up on my spraying regimen & the spots started spreading very quickly. Sprayed Exel one day, & Actinovate 2 days later & it put a halt to the problem. xD