Tomatoes - Ask Extension
My spring tomatoes are still growing and blooming but no fruit since the temperatures got over 95 degrees. Would a shade cloth help? If so what percen...
Knowledgebase
Tomatoes #882493
Asked August 21, 2024, 4:55 PM EDT
My spring tomatoes are still growing and blooming but no fruit since the temperatures got over 95 degrees. Would a shade cloth help? If so what percent shade? Or are there other measures to set fruit in hot weather?
Fort Bend County Texas
Expert Response
Hi Charles,
Thanks for contacting the Fort Bend Master Gardeners!
You are a true magician if you still have spring tomatoes growing in Fort Bend County! Typically, by early July tomato plants in our area are dead or dying due to the overwhelming heat and humidity and most folks simply replant for the fall and we have had at best limited success in saving our plants using shade cloth.
While shade cloth might help the plant survive no amount of shading will help your plants set fruit this time of year in our area. Tomatoes require temperatures in the upper 60's to lower 70's to set and this time of year with lows in the upper 70's or 80's you are extremely unlikely to get anything. That said if the plant survives in good shape you should expect to see fruit again once our evening temperatures subside.
Thanks again for contacting the Fort Bend Master Gardeners and please contact us at <personal data hidden> or<personal data hidden> if you have any additional questions.
Tom & Joe
FBMG Help Desk & Research Volunteers
Thanks for contacting the Fort Bend Master Gardeners!
You are a true magician if you still have spring tomatoes growing in Fort Bend County! Typically, by early July tomato plants in our area are dead or dying due to the overwhelming heat and humidity and most folks simply replant for the fall and we have had at best limited success in saving our plants using shade cloth.
While shade cloth might help the plant survive no amount of shading will help your plants set fruit this time of year in our area. Tomatoes require temperatures in the upper 60's to lower 70's to set and this time of year with lows in the upper 70's or 80's you are extremely unlikely to get anything. That said if the plant survives in good shape you should expect to see fruit again once our evening temperatures subside.
Thanks again for contacting the Fort Bend Master Gardeners and please contact us at <personal data hidden> or<personal data hidden> if you have any additional questions.
Tom & Joe
FBMG Help Desk & Research Volunteers
