Low temperatures rode in on rain and clouds. The soil warmed slowly. Unusual spring weather brought about a late planting of warm weather vegetables. Plants that usually were vigorously growing by May weren’t even in the ground.

Then the skies cleared, the heat came, and it barely rained for weeks on end. Now, in August, the tomato plants have single floppy stems tied to stakes. The leaves droop. A few flowers struggle, barely hanging on. Red fruit shows up now and then. There are no heavy crops to share with non-gardening friends. It’s been hot and dry for too long!

I should have been better prepared for an odd gardening year. Instead, I relied on the same vegetables that gave me success in the good growing years. Not all were a loss. The green beans, ‘Tenderette,’ that I have grown for years came through again.

Two new cucumbers were over the top, literally. They weren’t staked, which gave them the run of the garden. Cucumber Diva 5516 was a rousing success. I could even harvest these cucumbers without gloves. It is spineless as well as burpless.

Although my garden is small, I intend to diversify. I’ll put in tomatoes that withstand the heat. Park says MoneyMaker is good for hot climates. Tomatoes like Bradley Tropic, which was developed in Florida and one called Hot Florida 91 VFF Hybrid should certainly produce in the dog days. There is always the newer one called Heat Wave, although I did try it in a year past and thought it a bit lacking in the flavor department. I would have appreciated a Heat Wave crop this year.

My favorites will still have a spot to grow, too. I couldn’t get along without Park’s Whopper Cr Improved VFFNT Hybrid, Celebrity, Better Boy Hybrid, or Big Beef Hybrid. These are the tomatoes my family loves to slice.

Incidentally, the letters you see behind tomato names stand for resistance to these diseases:

V – Verticillium wilt.

FF – Fusarium wilt, Races 1 and 2.

N – Nematodes.

T – Tobacco mosaic virus.

If I must try those yummy black heirloom tomatoes, I’ll plant them in large pots. Most heirlooms do not have resistance to our many diseases. They need extra care and coddling in the garden for small rewards. When it comes to satisfying taste, they are worth the effort.

---Posted by Anne K Moore, August 18 2008---