Hey everyone! I've been growing tomatoes for quite a while, and I've noticed some differences between my previous experience and my current situation. Four years ago, I planted several kinds of tomato plants in 5-gallon smart pots. Even though the plants weren't huge, the tomatoes ripened perfectly. Fast forward to three years ago, I built a 15x15 garden, and while my tomato plants are enormous now and yield a lot, hardly any of the fruits ripen before the freezing weather hits. I've tried placing green tomatoes in a cool, dark spot, and they do ripen gradually, which is great for canning. But I'm puzzled about why tomatoes in the ground don't seem to ripen, even the cherry varieties. I live in Southern Oregon where we typically have almost no rainfall in the summer, and July and August bring temperatures in the low to mid-90s, occasionally hitting 97+. They get full sun from around 9 AM to 8 PM. I usually transplant them by the first week of June and add some compost and Miracle-Gro Performance Organics every couple of weeks. Interestingly, other crops like cucumbers, beans, strawberries, and spinach grow really well in the same area. In contrast, I've had no issues growing tomatoes in North/Central Idaho. Any suggestions for next year?
1 Answer
It sounds like your tomatoes might be struggling with the heat! Many of us have noticed that high temperatures can prevent ripening and fruit set. This summer has been particularly brutal for tomatoes, but I recently experienced a shift to cooler weather, and my fruits are starting to set and ripen like crazy. You might consider using a sun cloth to shield your plants from extreme sunlight when it's super hot. At this point, just hang tight for some cooler temps if you can!
Totally agree! I'm curious about why tomatoes thrive in greenhouse conditions despite similar temperatures. Is it just lower UV exposure, or could it actually be cooler in there?