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Florida Gardening

SPTimes article: Don't Plant Tomatoes Now

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b

14 years ago

Just read this @ SPTimes.com & thought it might be appreciated here...

Here is a link that might be useful: Avoid planting tomatoes when Florida temperatures soar

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Comments (19)

jellybobelly
14 years ago
I learned that just from reading this forum thanks to all the experienced gardeners here. Haven't yet grown a tomato plant myself, but I'm anxiously awaiting the fall to start my first.

I did see a lady at Home Depot last week buying a tomato plant. Shame that they still sell them knowing it is out of season. Makes you not want to trust any of the plants they sell.
tomncath
14 years ago
Here are some to consider: okra, sweet potatoes, collard greens, basil, chives and parsley.

This was in the next to last paragraph of the article. That's definitely wrong about the parsley, unless it's in almost full shade now...wouldn't last long in the sun.

Nice to see them pointing fingers at the big box though for this shameless act against the unlearned gardener.
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goldenpond
14 years ago
Tom McCubbin just warned against it it today on his show.
gatormomx2
14 years ago
Right now my tomatoes are miserable and the okra very happy . That's proof enough for me .
manature
14 years ago
On the parsley, Tom, I can attest to the fact that if you plant it early enough, it will survive the hottest of summers. I agree, don't try to start it now, but once it's established, it's good for 2 years of strong growth, finishing up year two with tall spikes of white flowers that look like Queen Anne's lace. (Just didn't want anyone to think it would die off in the summer if planted earlier.)

My cherry tomato is full of fruit...way more than we can (or want to) eat. But it is looking pretty ragged. Tomatoes just don't like our summers, do they? Even when started early, they really decline when the heat steps up.
Sort of like me, actually.

*starting to decline, even as I type*

Marcia
SaintPFLA
14 years ago
My 'Mutant Tomatoes' that I grew from seed in September 2008 are on their third wave of production. I thought for sure they would be dead by now...but, not complaining. Frankly, I'm amazed!

I also found two tomato seedlings (about two inches tall) that popped up. I have a habit of tossing the over-ripe/rotting tomatoes by the fence line for any critters to eat. I just dug them up and potted them.

I figure they will grow through July/August and be big enough to produce by late Aug/Sept.

I just love 'volunteers'!!! :-)
ladyaustin96
14 years ago
I am not having much luck with my toms this year. Although we have harvested some to make salsa and slice for sandwiches...I am looking forward to the fall when I can replant from the seeds I am saving now!

Kim
an_ill-mannered_ache
14 years ago
marcia, your little tomatoes will do just fine. pick off the diseased leaves. it's just the way tomatoes grow here. by the end of my season (for cherries, grapes, etc.) the tomato plan is seven feet tall (which is the extent of my reach) with the bottom 3 feet bare of leaves. (they'd grow taller if i let them!) so long as they can put on growth at the top, they'll do great.
greentfinger
14 years ago
So what's new???
puglvr1
14 years ago
Thanks to Tom and Silvia for recommending I grow Okra this time of year...my tomatoes aren't looking so hot, but my Okra that I planted several weeks ago are thriving and I have my first bloom and several more are forming! How long do you think it will be before I see some baby okras?
{{gwi:881112}}
lellie
14 years ago
Geez...my maters are still doing well.
Lots of blossoms and many toms...Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????
tomncath
14 years ago
How long do you think it will be before I see some baby okras?

If you have blooms you'll be picking okra in 10 days :-)

Geez...my maters are still doing well.

Wish I could say that, I'll be finishing off the last of my Beefmaster's over the next week, then will start immediate tomato withdrawal :-(
puglvr1
14 years ago
Thanks Tom...Wow, 10 days! That's fast!! I'll let you know.

Lellie...Lucky you! I have a few green ones left, but I'm not sure they will ripen? I will just have to wait and see...
tomncath
14 years ago
Lellie...Lucky you! I have a few green ones left, but I'm not sure they will ripen? I will just have to wait and see...

If they are relatively full sized they will. I'm just eating the last of my Beefmasters that I picked just breaking off green two weeks ago.
pepper_d0g
14 years ago
You have got to be kidding me! I am so disappointed! We are new to container gardening this year and even with all my reading I did not know toms won't grow in the summer here. And I just built two new earthtainers and ordered some cool heirlooms from California! I don't know... I have a bunch of toms in containers around my pool and they look like they are doing ok... are they just going to up and die?? Check out the pictures on the photobucket link below.

Pdawg

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Florida pool container garden
crystabel
14 years ago
I learned this lesson last year! Even though I'd read from the extension office that they weren't a summer crop, I saw them at Lowe's and said to myself "surely they wouldn't sell them if you can't grow them at this time?". Wrong!

I currently have some on the vine that are green, I hope they finish in time!
tomncath
14 years ago
Depends on where you live. I'm in Zone 10 with night temps in the mid-80s already, once night temps here are over 75F blooming and fruit set are usually over - sure, there are some UF plants designed to set in these conditions but most are tasteless.... If you're inland and 10-12 degrees cooler at night your plants will probably still bloom and set fruit. If not, they still look very healthy and you can force them to bloom and set fruit through at least July and maybe the rest of the summer if you spray them with a hormone, this is assuming they don't succumb to the pests and diseases we deal with during the summer rainy season....

Tom
ljlloyd
14 years ago
Just saw what looks like a fresh shipment of tomato plants at home depot. They were Bonnie Heatwaves and suppossedly abundant producers even in temps in the mid 90s. Determinant with medium sized fruit. Recommended for late and 2nd plantings.

I bought a BHN 444 and Talladega plant because of so called heat resistance, and they did the best before The Great Rains started. (I now see that BHN 640 were developed in Florida and may do even better) Any chance of these really being able to survive down here when others cant?

If I could at least make a go at one more round of planting at our pre-school garden with a chance of the plants squeezing out a single harvest we'll go for it.
tomncath
14 years ago
If I could at least make a go at one more round of planting at our pre-school garden with a chance of the plants squeezing out a single harvest we'll go for it.

I'd do currants if you really want something productive during the hottest part of summer, they're probably the origin of ALL tomatoes and will set anytime of the year... although only pearl size the kids will love eating them like grapes, and did I mention their WONDERFUL flavor :-)

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