Hey everyone! I'm dealing with some issues in my garden here in Oklahoma. We had an unusually wet spring with tons of rain, but now it's extremely dry and hot. I've been watering my plants every evening for about 45 minutes, but my tomato and pepper plants are showing signs of distress. The leaves are curling and turning brown, which I've never experienced before. I'm wondering if they might be shallow rooted, and if so, is there anything I can do besides just watering frequently?
4 Answers
It sounds like your plants might be suffering from too much water, which can cause issues like blossom end rot. Have you tried adding some calcium? Dissolving it in water helps it reach the plants quicker. Also, mulching can keep moisture in. I personally use a drip hose and cardboard for this. Another tip is to try planting your tomatoes where they'll get some afternoon shade or use shade cloth to help them through the heat of August here in Oklahoma.
Watering for 45 minutes every night might be too much for your in-ground plants. It's better to water deeply and then let the soil dry out before watering again. This encourages deeper root growth, which is what your plants need right now.
It's possible that too much watering is flushing out nutrients from the soil. Are you fertilizing your plants at all?
I'm in Oklahoma too and have been facing similar challenges. The humidity is high, over 60%, which along with all the rain we got, seems to have brought in a lot of fungal and bacterial issues. I'm also dealing with army worms—I've had to inspect my garden daily and eradicate their eggs to keep them under control. It's tough when the good insects and birds are less around to help. Good luck with your garden, fellow Okie!
I haven't fertilized recently. We use well water that’s quite hard, full of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which seem to work well for my grass and landscaping, so I thought the plants would be fine without added fertilizer.