High heat in Midwest-blossom drop

dot520 · June 9, 2022

Central Indiana is going to be experiencing a heat wave starting next week and going for over 1.5 weeks. Well over 90 degrees, not sure about the humidity but it's the Midwest. All 30 of my tomato plants are doing fantastic with tons of flowers. Will just watering them evenly and often be enough to keep the blossoms from all dropping? I don't see installing a shade cover.

Suggestions?

KarenO · June 9, 2022

Shade helps but blooms blooming right now should set before next week
So hopefully won’t drop unpollinated. Don’t let them get dry that will also help
KarenO

D.J. Wolf · June 10, 2022

I totally agree with Karen. I'm not that far west of you, and when we start hitting the 90's I go to a daily watering of between a quarter and a third of an inch. I can't help but think that keeping the roots damp and cool helps prevent a lot of the blossom drop

hl2601 · June 17, 2022

We regularly have these high temps in Denver. Something that is essential here is to mulch, mulch, mulch! That will help cool the plant and retain moisture!

Balr14 · June 22, 2022

We have been experiencing temps in the mid 90s for about a week. I grow tomatoes in Earthboxes and they are using 3 gallons of water every day. The plants seem perfectly fine.

MrsJustice · June 22, 2022

When it gets very hot I uses a tool that looks like a Cultivating Rake, i made myself. It put holes in the dirts without hunting the Roof System of my Tomato Plants to allow water deep down in the ground.

Stay safe working in all that heat, Amen!!

b54red · June 24, 2022

We have been having temps of 100 or more for the past week and my tomatoes are still setting fruit. The earlier advice of mulch and watering goes double when the temps get really high. I also improve fruit set by feeding tomatoes with TTF weekly if possible. Most important of all is do not let them get dry even if you have to water daily.

Bill

June 9, 2022	#1
dot520 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 19	High heat in Midwest-blossom drop Central Indiana is going to be experiencing a heat wave starting next week and going for over 1.5 weeks. Well over 90 degrees, not sure about the humidity but it's the Midwest. All 30 of my tomato plants are doing fantastic with tons of flowers. Will just watering them evenly and often be enough to keep the blossoms from all dropping? I don't see installing a shade cover. Suggestions?

June 10, 2022	#3
D.J. Wolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Illinois Posts: 199	I totally agree with Karen. I'm not that far west of you, and when we start hitting the 90's I go to a daily watering of between a quarter and a third of an inch. I can't help but think that keeping the roots damp and cool helps prevent a lot of the blossom drop __________________ Kevin (aka the DJ)

June 22, 2022	#6
MrsJustice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, Virginia Posts: 1,510	When it gets very hot I uses a tool that looks like a Cultivating Rake, i made myself. It put holes in the dirts without hunting the Roof System of my Tomato Plants to allow water deep down in the ground. Stay safe working in all that heat, Amen!! __________________ May God Bless you and my Garden, Amen https://www.angelfieldfarms.com MrsJustice as Farmer Joyce Beggs

June 9, 2022	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Shade helps but blooms blooming right now should set before next week So hopefully won’t drop unpollinated. Don’t let them get dry that will also help KarenO

June 17, 2022	#4
hl2601 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Metro Denver Posts: 770	We regularly have these high temps in Denver. Something that is essential here is to mulch, mulch, mulch! That will help cool the plant and retain moisture!

June 22, 2022	#5
Balr14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: wisconsin Posts: 135	We have been experiencing temps in the mid 90s for about a week. I grow tomatoes in Earthboxes and they are using 3 gallons of water every day. The plants seem perfectly fine.

June 24, 2022	#7
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	We have been having temps of 100 or more for the past week and my tomatoes are still setting fruit. The earlier advice of mulch and watering goes double when the temps get really high. I also improve fruit set by feeding tomatoes with TTF weekly if possible. Most important of all is do not let them get dry even if you have to water daily. Bill