Late-summer heat halts cherry tomato production
Q: Most of my cherry tomato plants have stopped setting tomatoes. They’ve done pretty darn well until now, so what can I do for them? W.T., Albuquerque
A. First, it’s the plants reacting to the weather that has your plant acting slow.
When it’s this hot for extended periods of time, tomatoes tend to sit still. They are still alive, and as soon as the weather breaks, I’ll bet they respond with a new round of bloom and tomato set.
That is, as long as you continue to maintain them. Don’t let them get too “wilty” before watering, but don’t keep them soggy wet either.
I’d recommend eliminating any overhead watering, too.
Sometimes if the leaves are still wet when the sun climbs high, that can cause a certain amount of damage to the leaves. Without healthy leaves, your plants will become puny and have a much harder way to go.
If you do want to spray off the plants, it’s best done in the early evening, so the plant is dry before heat of the next day. Just monitor the plants for any mold or fungal infections that might be encouraged by the nighttime moisture.
As soon as the temperatures come out of the mid-90s,
I would suggest a fertilization using a water-soluble fertilizer. A product such as Miracle-gro is what you’ll want to use. Be sure to dilute to manufacturer’s recipe, and apply it at dusk after the heat of the day has passed or very early in the morning so that it’s dry before the heat of the day.
Pour it liberally all over the plants and generously on the soil to give your weary plants a kick in the pants. They’ll be OK as long as you continue to take care of them through this hot time of year.
About the yellow blossoms on the Hummingbird feeders …
Like you, I haven’t found red-colored replacements but necessity being the mother of invention, I painted my yellow blossoms with red fingernail polish. When cleaning the feeder, I popped the blossoms off — which isn’t really easy, but with enough force they do pop out — and painted the tops, covering the parts that resemble petals on the flower.
I didn’t paint the whole thing inside and out, just the “petals.”
It’s working, as I have noticed that there are fewer bees attracted to my feeder. Thought you might like to know and thanks for making me think about the yellow on the feeders being an attractant to buzzing bugs. — N.W., Albuquerque
FIESTA TODAY: Just a reminder that the 13th Annual Albuquerque Tomato Fiesta happens today. Join tomato lovers at the Albuquerque Garden Center — 10120 Lomas NE — from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Admission to this event is $5; free for kids under 12. Parking is free, and there are plenty of spaces.
There will be “tomato tastings, samples from our 10th edition “Tomato Fiesta” cookbook, free gardening seminars, homegrown produce from local master gardeners, buy lunch at the Tomato Café, arts & crafts & Tomato Fiesta merchandise from vendors, and live music from the Alpha Blue Trio.”
Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send your gardenrelated questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103, or to features@abqjournal. com.