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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

For the last 5 years we have experienced unseasonably warm weather here in central Pennsylvania. This has been very hard on my tomato patch. Tomatoes are ripening earlier than usual and are smaller than I might like. It seems this new "hotter" summer may now be the norm rather than the exception. Even shade cloths cannot lower air temperatures in the patch, only the amount of direct sunlight on the plants and tomatoes. I am wondering if any of the other growers have noticed a change in the summer temperatures to the point that it has actually effected your crops? Certainly pumpkin growers are seeing the results of heat on their giants. I know I am seeing it on my tomatoes.

8/13/2016 10:57:40 AM

50 Acres

The last 3 summers have been hotter. I now notice SVB are now coming each summer. I don't think we get the extreme heat others do, but it is enough to bring pests further north. My tomatoes are about the same as other years. Jim OTTAWA VALLEY.

8/13/2016 12:29:57 PM

Wixom MI.

yes very hot summer, over 20 days 90° and above. this year i have put a towl over the tomatoes to protect from the sun and helps keep them cooler.also i used a leaf mulch to help keep the ground moist.my only problem is i am still getting blossom end rot !!! over all my plants are doing much better this year even with all this heat.

8/13/2016 2:18:11 PM

Going Green

Marv....I have planted my tomatoes so that they are in some afternoon shade and I were the soil almost daily with a fertilizer drench. I have had so many more blooms and large tomatoes since doing so because our summers like yours have been 90-110 degrees daily.

8/13/2016 2:38:33 PM

Going Green

Use plenty of calcium to prevent bloosoms end rot. Gypsum in the soil and Cal mag fertilizer in the water ground drench.

8/13/2016 2:40:48 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

We have had the opposite in the Northwest. Cooler June and July. Some difficulty pollinating with cool night temps. Ripening in 45-50 dap. We finally have our long, warm summer stretch we have been waiting for. A few weeks delay in the bulk of tomatoes and growth so now things should be and are happening.

8/13/2016 3:53:08 PM

Over the last three days, we have received 2.7" of rain. Temps have been hot and humid, but tomorrow the temps should go down with the humidity. I am growing two Reinhards and one Wellington. My girls are still green with the exception of my largest on the Wellington beginning to turn. I will post pics tomorrow.

8/13/2016 5:26:06 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I can't speak for past years as I'm a rookie this year.
What I can say is the tomatoes I have now have turned a lot faster than any of my larger ones from earlier this year.
My 2.13 took about a month and a half to flash color.
I thought my season was about over as my plants have only spit smaller blossoms lately.
I had one more mega appear on my 4.79 Terry about 3 weeks ago.
Nice looking tomato,looked to be a double.
Noticed yesterday that it appears to be turning already.
Probably not even a pound.
Weather here in coastal Virginia has been crazy this year.

8/14/2016 9:42:49 AM

Hamilton Nj

yes its bein getting worse for me this year is the fastest ive ever seen giant tomatos ripen and now im seeing some blight might have to trim a few plants today but way too hot!!!!!pizza

8/14/2016 2:05:57 PM