Hot weather - what's likely to happen?

[tam91]

My tomatoes in containers are not happy this year. But the ones in the ground, in my extra garden, are the happiest tomato plants I've ever seen. Only maybe 2 1/2 feet high, but green and bushy, and the regular plants have so many blossoms they look like cherry tomato plants.

But.

It's been quite hot, and while today is nice, it is going to heat way up again - forecast for thursday is 103!

Are any/many of these blossoms likely to set fruit?

sigh, and on a side note, I don't think it's ever going to rain again. I've moved to the desert without moving. Ugh.

[coastal bend]

Are you sure you don't live in South Texas . It is 104 here today and is going to be hotter tomorrow. My tom's have bit the dust, but I did have a good harvest. The Cherokee Purple is still hanging in there but not for long. I think we are already a desert, it hasn't rained in over a month and have only had 14" since since last May(2011).

[moon1234]

Originally Posted by tam91

My tomatoes in containers are not happy this year. But the ones in the ground, in my extra garden, are the happiest tomato plants I've ever seen. Only maybe 2 1/2 feet high, but green and bushy, and the regular plants have so many blossoms they look like cherry tomato plants.

But.

It's been quite hot, and while today is nice, it is going to heat way up again - forecast for thursday is 103!

Are any/many of these blossoms likely to set fruit?

sigh, and on a side note, I don't think it's ever going to rain again. I've moved to the desert without moving. Ugh.

It depends on the cultivar. After more than a day or two of temps above 95 many tomatoes will abort their fruit/blossoms to save the green foliage. There are some newer varieties that are designed to set well in sustained higher temps, but they are mostly determinates.

The best thing you can do for these plantes is to water them during the day including the roots. Reasearch has shown that high root temp is a trigger for blossom drop/fruit abortion.

[VC Scott]

Originally Posted by moon1234

It depends on the cultivar. After more than a day or two of temps above 95 many tomatoes will abort their fruit/blossoms to save the green foliage. There are some newer varieties that are designed to set well in sustained higher temps, but they are mostly determinates.

The best thing you can do for these plantes is to water them during the day including the roots. Reasearch has shown that high root temp is a trigger for blossom drop/fruit abortion.

That is interesting. I assume then that a heavy mulch might keep soil temps down and help avoid fruit/blossom drop.

[tam91]

Well I water them. No determinates for me. And all but 1 are heirlooms.

[b54red]

Don't just water them, over water them and put down a thick layer of mulch to keep the soil temperatures as low as possible. I have found that a very heavy watering during stress times seems to greatly increase fruit set. Allowing the plant to get a bit dry will cause a lot of blossom drop during times of extreme heat. This will not make every flower set but it does really help. It is not something you want to do when the tomato plants are loaded with nearly mature fruit because splitting and watery tasting tomatoes can result.

[tam91]

This garden is not at home, so mulch is not going to be a possibility. I will water the heck out of them however, thank you. The ground is just absolutely bone dry here.

[Wi-sunflower]

Tracy, I know exactly how you feel. We are having the same issues just not quite as hot (90s) because we are about 100 miles north of you. What really sucks is there is no DECENT rain in the forecast, just scattered showers that usually fizzle apart before they get to us.

As far as blossom set -- we have plants in the greenhouses where it will get 100+ on every sunny day. We still get some fruit set on those plants in the small pots. Of course we water the heck out of that stuff. Often twice / day as the plants are really too big for the pots but we don't have the time to get them in the ground right now.

We are way behind on planting because we had to do so much watering just to keep what was in the ground alive. It feels like we are spending 1/2 - 3/4 of EVERY day watering. We spent the last week+ setting up drip on about 5+ acres of cole, peppers, eggplant and zucchini.

The tomatoes we do have in the ground need 3 - 1200 gal tanks of water splash/dumped on them every couple of days now that most of them are either growing or dead. My poor well must think someone left the faucet open as it is rarely off these days. I just hope it holds out.

Ray dug out the big Aluminum irrigation pipes and set that up at our new farm down the road where we have all our winter squash and watermelons. What a project !!! Moving the pipe around is a pain enough. But getting the PTO pump to draw water was horrendous. We hadn't used it in about 4 years so it had cracks in the suction line. But we finally got that running. There is a nice pond right there so we have plenty of water for that.

It's just so much extra work tho. I'm really beat today after all the irrigation stuff we did yesterday. I just hope I will be able to get a crop and a decent price that will make it seem worth it.

Here's hoping both of our tomatoes and other crops survive this summer. Not to mention us too.

Carol

[Dewayne mater]

With that type of heat, sun shade cloth can make a huge difference. Might be worth trying. Also, make sure your tainers have something blocking the sun on the base, such as bamboo shades. Direct sun/heat on the tainers in heat like that will fry the roots, evaporate your water and possibly contribute to BER by inhibiting calcium uptake. Search "The snack" and consider adding that to your tainers to give them a boost in the heat stress. Good luck!

Dewayne mater.

[tam91]

Dewayne, thank you - but my tomatoes in containers don't have many blossoms, they're pretty wimpy. It's the tomato plants in my other garden, in the ground, that are covered in blossoms. I can't think of where to get shade cloth, and enough - it's a pretty large area. Oh, I do hope those blossoms set! I am watering the heck out of it.

Carol - with just a couple gardens and flowers, I am extremely tired of watering. I cannot imagine how you feel! No rain for the next 10 days either, this is really wierd weather.

[peppero]

it has been in the 90's lately and very dry with a high pressure area in full control. i noticed that we are going to have many days above 100 with no rain the forecast. i have been mulching uncovered area and have put some of my smaller container plants in white 5 gallon buckets with a brick in the bottom and then putting about 6 inches of water in. i noticed later that they had all perked up. i guess i could call it a quick cheap self watering container. jon

[PA_Julia]

Remember you can increase your chances of fruit set by a notably amount by using the electric toothbrush method.



Julia

[tam91]

The toothbrush even works in the heat?

[PA_Julia]

IMO Tracy it would increase your chances over not using it.
It's worth a try yes?

My home town is Alton, IL outside St. Louis so how could I steer you wrong?


Julia

[brengolio]

It hasn't been working here in Louisiana.......... but the highs have been 101............ at the 10 o'clock news it was 90......... the little blooms are drying up