I don't fertilize cuttings until I'm sure they've rooted because of the impact solutes in the soil solution have on water absorption and the cutting's ability to remain hydrated. I don't think there is any credible evidence that the fine roots responsible for water/nutrient uptake, once they form, are any more likely to react negatively to normal levels of EC/TDS if they're attached to newly formed roots than if they happen to be tertiary, quaternary, quinary, senary ...... bifurcations eventually leading back to older, lignified roots. I've seen newly formed roots grasping both granular and controlled release fertilizer prills/pellets as they dissolve with no ill effects on the roots or the plant proper. The work horses are ALWAYS young roots, so if the belief that newly formed roots are more fragile held water, the age of the plant would still have nothing to do with the age of the roots doing the heavy lifting. I don't fertilize seedlings until the first set of true leaves appears. Until that time, the plant gets it's energy from carbohydrates and nutrients stored in the endosperm. I've found that even when plants are dehydrated/wilted, I've done no observable damage when fertilizing at very low rates. I wouldn't apply fertilizer solutions at the rate suggested on the package, but the approximately 1/8 strength doses I use at every watering during the winter haven't presented any issues. I DO withhold fertilizers when actual soil temps are likely to be much above 80*, and I never knowingly fertilize when average soil temperatures are expected to be below 55*. I also don't premix CRFs into soils I don't intend to use within a short time. Al

Yes it's the heat, you can try shading, loads of water, but basically it's the heat. During July & Aug that's when the cherry toms keep comming and the larger ones quiet down. For next year, start them earlier and set out sooner (I plant out by my Bday in mid Feb each year, as a convient reminder), once it beging to cool in Sept, expect your plants to put out your fall flush of toms, till then just keep the plants in the best condition you can. (Or you can have 2 sets of plants a spring set and fall tomatoes if you wanna fiddle with that, I usually keep my spring vines alive thru summer, simplier for me). These keep going for us the last few years: Sweet 100 Yellow pear Black from Tula Sungold

We've had very similar weather to Milwaukee and a lot of my roses have been small, oddly shaped and odd colors. It's the heat, and for me at least, no rain. Even though I've been watering like mad nothing replaces a good soaking rain and we haven't had anything like that since sometime in very early June. When it has rained we get like maybe .10 of an inch if that and those have been few and far between. The roses are really just sitting around waiting for fall and cooler temps...and so am I! As Zack notes, there are some roses that do particularly well even in very hot weather. My St. Patrick did just have some gorgeous blooms. Also Julia Child has not been phased a bit by the heat and drought. My minis are also doing better than the HTs with lots of good looking blooms. If you're interested there is another thread about what roses are doing well in desert states right now. Check that out! Heat tolerant roses

I have lived in most states in western USA. Can't say humidity was a THING I noticed until living in MN. I am going to chalk that up to being a child and children just manage? Even in New Mexico I don't remember the heat being a thing. We did the Disney thing in Florida a few years ago. It was October. We were there when the humidity broke for the season. Oppressive and restrictive is all I can say. Everyone crabs about northern winters but as we say you can always put on more clothes--you can only get sooo naked. I will second the bright sun of winter. Often it comes with very frigid days but it is winter, after all. We are having a rather glorious summer. Some humidity true but a week on, some relief then it returns allows for plenty of gardening and outdoor time. I think that is the key, change. Non stop heat/cold/humidity--what ever--is exhausting. I prefer the hit of extremes to the non stop torture of day after day after day--that's what gets me down. The idea of summer in the southern states holds nothing appealing. Maybe a new thread is needed. Where would be the perfect, climate wise,place to live? Four seasons, nothing EXTREME.....