Hot Weather, Happy Tomatoes: A Hanover Gardener’s Strategy

As the summer sun sizzles, let’s chat about keeping those tomato plants happy and healthy. Tomatoes love a good dose of warmth, ideally basking in temps between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. But when the thermometer hits 95 or above, our tomato buddies might start feeling the heat – literally. They could stop growing, and their flowers might have a tough time pollinating, which means a pause on new tomatoes. Plus, if you’ve got tomatoes turning from green to red, they might just stick at an unripe orange in that intense heat.

Now, don’t sweat it! We’ve got some cool tricks up our sleeves to beat the heat. Try giving your tomato plants some morning sun and then some afternoon shade to chill in. If they’re soaking up the sun all day long, rig up some shade with row cover material or a shade cloth on the west side of their support structure. This way, they get protection from that harsh midday sun but still enjoy the morning rays and a nice breeze from the east. Clip those covers on with clothespins or binder clips so you can easily sneak in there to harvest. A good shade cloth can knock down the temperature by up to 10 degrees, keeping your tomatoes in their happy zone.

Seeing your tomato plant’s leaves curling? If everything else looks good – green leaves, flowers blooming, tomatoes growing – it’s probably just the plant’s way of saying, “It’s hot out here!” They curl up to save water when it’s evaporating faster than they can drink it up. It’s not usually a big deal for the fruit or the plant’s health. Just poke your finger into the soil about an inch down; if it feels dry, it’s time for a drink.

On the flip side, if the leaves are curling up, you might be loving your plants a little too much with water. That can lead to root rot, and then the plant can’t soak up moisture properly. Check the soil to see if it’s soggy. Sadly, once root rot sets in, it’s pretty tough for the plant to bounce back.

Before you write off leaf curl as no biggie, do a quick pest check for bugs or caterpillar cocoons. If it’s all clear, then that upward curl is just the plant’s way of coping with the heat.

A cozy two- to three-inch blanket of mulch around your tomato plants will keep the soil moist and the roots cool. You can use straw, wood chips, chopped leaves, or grass clippings. Mulch also helps keep the soil moisture steady, which means less cracking fruit and fewer blossoms falling off.

For the sweetest tomatoes, it’s all about finding that perfect mix of warm weather and sunshine. Ninety-degree days with plenty of sun can make your tomatoes taste like candy, but once it hits 100, they might look ready on the outside but stay green on the inside. In super hot weather, pick tomatoes as they start to turn color and let them finish ripening indoors – just remember, no fridge time for these guys.  It ruins the flavor.

So, to wrap it up, with a little bit of planning, some shade, the right amount of water, and a touch of mulch, you’ll be on your way to a delicious tomato harvest, even when Hanover County turns up the heat. Happy gardening!

by Master Gardener, Katherine Hebert