Wind and Drought in Houston

MikeInCypress · April 24, 2011

I have been growing tomatoes here in the Houston Area since 1979. Since I relocated from the Galleria area to Cypress 12 years ago most of my plants are in containers. I don't believe I have ever seen the wind combined with the lack of rain that we are having this year. My plant out was in late Feb to March 10 and everything looked good. plants were setting fruit and growing. Then we got hit with the triple whammy of no rain, high winds and high temps which caused many of the fruit to develop BER and blossom drop. I work from home so the 3 times a day watering that is the norm for the plants in containers is feasible.

I hope we have a moderation in the weather soon or it will be "wait til next year."

MikeInCypress

duajones · April 24, 2011

Wind and lack of rain have had an effect on my plants as well. Average fruit per plant is probably down 8 to 10 compared to last year. Also seeing alot of blossom drop

creister · April 25, 2011

Too much wind here in Abilene. More than usual. Many days we have had 15-25 sustained with gusts over 30. Just brutal. I do wrap my cages with the grow cloth, which has helped.

b54red · April 25, 2011

We have been experiencing very high temps and terrible wind. I have been trying to spray my tomatoes for a couple of days but the winds are just too high. The younger plants which have not been mulched yet are suffering and some are even dying. I try to keep them watered but the wind just sucks the moisture out of the ground as fast as you put it in. We need some of our famous downpours about now to break this heat cycle and give the plants a respite. Of course that kind of rain will bring out the diseases full force.

ArcherB · April 25, 2011

We are having the same issues in Austin. I have never seen wind this persistent. It seems like very single day is windy and I have not seen any measurable rain since mid February.

My plants are hanging in there but there is obvious wind damage. The plants that were set out early under WOW's have set but fruit set seems few and far between among the rest of the plants.

I'm doing all I can to affect the weather. So far, that has meant washing my truck and following Rick Perry's advice; prayer!

waterman1971 · April 28, 2011

Mike, a question if I may. What is the correlation between the high winds and the BER? I had the exact same thing happen to mine just yesterday when the winds shifted to the northeast. I am located down in Port Arthur, Tx.

MikeInCypress · April 28, 2011

Waterman .....The high winds cause the plants to require more water more often. Thus the growing medium dries out more often and this instability in the moisture of the growing medium is one of the causes of BER. At least thats how it was explained to me.

MikeInCypress

waterman1971 · April 28, 2011

]Thank you very much for your answer.

In your opinion is it possible to mitigate the effects of the wind?

I was concerned with over watering my plants.

With the high winds, do you think twice per day is overdoing it?

If you have time would you mind posting some pics of your fruits. Please allow me to show an example of mine.[IMG]

[/IMG]

I apologize for highjacking your thread, but thank you again sir.

feldon30 · April 29, 2011

Twice per day? Are you growing in very small containers?

That looks like Blossom End Rot caused by overwatering or uneven watering.

April 24, 2011	#1
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	Wind and Drought in Houston I have been growing tomatoes here in the Houston Area since 1979. Since I relocated from the Galleria area to Cypress 12 years ago most of my plants are in containers. I don't believe I have ever seen the wind combined with the lack of rain that we are having this year. My plant out was in late Feb to March 10 and everything looked good. plants were setting fruit and growing. Then we got hit with the triple whammy of no rain, high winds and high temps which caused many of the fruit to develop BER and blossom drop. I work from home so the 3 times a day watering that is the norm for the plants in containers is feasible. I hope we have a moderation in the weather soon or it will be "wait til next year." MikeInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

April 24, 2011	#2
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	Wind and lack of rain have had an effect on my plants as well. Average fruit per plant is probably down 8 to 10 compared to last year. Also seeing alot of blossom drop __________________ Duane Jones

April 28, 2011	#7
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	Waterman .....The high winds cause the plants to require more water more often. Thus the growing medium dries out more often and this instability in the moisture of the growing medium is one of the causes of BER. At least thats how it was explained to me. MikeInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

April 28, 2011	#8
waterman1971 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2010 Location: The great state of Texas Posts: 43	]Thank you very much for your answer. In your opinion is it possible to mitigate the effects of the wind? I was concerned with over watering my plants. With the high winds, do you think twice per day is overdoing it? If you have time would you mind posting some pics of your fruits. Please allow me to show an example of mine.[IMG][/IMG] I apologize for highjacking your thread, but thank you again sir. Last edited by waterman1971; April 28, 2011 at 07:10 PM.

April 29, 2011	#9
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Twice per day? Are you growing in very small containers? That looks like Blossom End Rot caused by overwatering or uneven watering. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

April 25, 2011	#3
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Too much wind here in Abilene. More than usual. Many days we have had 15-25 sustained with gusts over 30. Just brutal. I do wrap my cages with the grow cloth, which has helped.

April 25, 2011	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	We have been experiencing very high temps and terrible wind. I have been trying to spray my tomatoes for a couple of days but the winds are just too high. The younger plants which have not been mulched yet are suffering and some are even dying. I try to keep them watered but the wind just sucks the moisture out of the ground as fast as you put it in. We need some of our famous downpours about now to break this heat cycle and give the plants a respite. Of course that kind of rain will bring out the diseases full force.

April 25, 2011	#5
ArcherB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austin TX Posts: 200	We are having the same issues in Austin. I have never seen wind this persistent. It seems like very single day is windy and I have not seen any measurable rain since mid February. My plants are hanging in there but there is obvious wind damage. The plants that were set out early under WOW's have set but fruit set seems few and far between among the rest of the plants. I'm doing all I can to affect the weather. So far, that has meant washing my truck and following Rick Perry's advice; prayer!