(no subject)

[the_rck]

I'm waiting to see the effects of recent cold nights on my plants. Sunday night, the prediction was for 'patchy frost.' I only found that out after I was in bed, so I couldn't bring in the tomato plants. They aren't dead, but last time, it took a couple of days for the leaves that browned to go.

I am having trouble judging when the tomatoes need more water. I don't want to over water them, but the soil always seems to look damp. I can't tell if it's really damp or just looks that way.

We do have a few proto-tomatoes. Cordelia is keeping an eye on them. She likes to eat them freshly picked, and it looks like we'll have a better crop this year than last. I guess fertilizing the plants really does help. I just wish the fertilizer came with more detailed instructions. I'm not clear on how much to use for a plant in a pot or how often to apply it. The instructions assume a larger bed.

I need to get out to the raised beds to do some weeding. Those definitely need watering, too. It's just that it's chilly enough that I really don't welcome getting as wet as watering gets me. I need to remember to have Scott buy a new sprayer attachment for the hose.

Comments

[inkstone]

If you're unsure about how often to water the tomatoes, the trick is to stick your finger in the soil. Or you could use a stick. If it's still damp a few inches down, then the tomatoes will be fine. I'm not sure what the climate is like there but at the height of summer here (high 90s, clear skies, high humidity), I only water my tomatoes twice a week. (But it's a good deep watering.)

To help keep the moisture locked in, you could put mulch around your tomato plants. That also helps.

[the_rck]

My tomatoes are in pots, so I expect them to dry out a bit faster than if they were in the ground. (My only places to put things in the ground are mostly shady with 3-4 hours of sun a day. Putting the tomatoes in pots, I can get at least six hours of sun a day.) I should stick my finger into the dirt. I've just been too fastidious.

We've also generally got high humidity here. I'm in southeastern Michigan. They're predicting another hotter than usual summer (last year was awful), but so far, it's been colder than usual. I mean, frost in June? Really? I suppose I should be glad. It's made soccer games much more bearable for the kids, and the school's ice cream social won't be a misery.

[kyrielle]

You could also buy a checker or two for it in the garden center and stick *them* in the soil - though I'm not sure how well they work, having never used one other than a very ancient one that came along with a plant I got from my parents' house. It didn't seem to work, but it was also old enough I don't know if it just got broken over time.

[the_rck]

I'll look into those. They could be useful if they work.

Thanks!

[untonuggan]

Good luck with the frostbitten plants!

[the_rck]

Thanks!