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Re: July propagation

Hi Nan,

In our hot, fairly humid climate, late summer is hot with little rain. It's
hard to keep large tomato plants healthy. They don't set fruit because of
the heat, especially at night, and they're susceptible to major attacks of
spider mites. So, by cutting them back, they have a break from the heat,
the roots are getting a rest, and hopefully, the foliage grows back ready
to produce flowers and fruit. We usually have a mild fall, so by the end of
Sept. or early Oct. I could be harvesting tomatoes again. The one exception
to this practice, at least in my garden, is to only trim the Sweet 100
cherry tomatoes back a little, and they'll produce throughout the summer.

This year, too, I've taken cuttings of some of the tomatoes and am rooting
them, some in water, some in growing medium. They'll go out in the garden
in about a month, hopefully.

Hope this helps clear up some of your questions.

Cindy Meredith, South Central Texas, Z8/9

>Hi Cindy!
>
>I was very intrigued by your comment about cutting off your tomatoes and
>preparing them for fall growth.  Why is this necessary?  Does it set them
>back until Fall?  Will they produce longer?  Why/how does it work?  What
>happens if you don't prepare the tomato plants this way?  Is this common
>practice in your area?
>
>Very interesting....
>
>Nan
>
>>Hi everyone,
>>
>>Here in South Central Texas, zone 8/9 it is really hot already. I am taking
>>cuttings of tomatoes for a fall crop, seeding more eggplant (they got off
>>to a slow start this year because of an unusually wet and cool spring),
>>brassicas, and annuals for fall color. In a week or so, I'll cut off most
>>of my tomatoes to about 15"-18" tall, weed, remulch, keep them watered and
>>hope they grow for the fall. In the herb garden, I'm taking cuttings of
>>thymes, basils, rosemary, mints to increase my garden, to dry, and to share
>>with others. I've also seeded a summer lettuce crop to be grown under shade
>>cloth. I'm saving seed from my favorite tomatoes and peppers too.
>>
>>It's still too early for planting fall crops of melons, cukes, summer
>>squash and corn, but the perfect time to plant southern peas and dry beans.
>>
>>And, that's what's doing in my South Central Texas garden. Happy summer,
>>y'all!
>>
>>Cindy Meredith, Texas, Z 8/9
>
>+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
>Nan Sterman, "gardening addict"
>Olivenhain, California
>Sunset Zone 24, USDA Zone 10b or 11
>+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
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