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Joliet, IL

we are gonna go over 95 degrees here in the Chicagoland area later this week when the sun is the strongest and longest near june 21st. i have a shade tarp over all my main tips and all blossums to open this week are also tarped over as preventative maintenance.

my question is, who has had main tips burned to the point of no more growth from them cuz they got fried? how hot was it when it happened?

also, how hot is too hot for female blossums that are in the growth stage between pea size to pollination time?
i have had these fry before, but never a main tip.

just curious as to what others have experienced and what temperatures should everyone start to be concerned about their main tips and female blossums getting cooked.

thanks
shazzy

6/21/2005 9:28:17 AM

Cologne / Germany

I use simple garden umbrellas to shade important parts of the plant and never had problems. BUT - these umbrellas are canvassed so no plastic stuff here.

I did a test yesterday and the temp under the canvas was 86 F, but the tomato plants under a plastic tarp had 97 F!

I see many growers here using plastic tarps so be careful. There are significant differences concerning the material we use to shade. In any case it must be breathable stuff otherwise things will heat up and you get the exact opposite from what a shade should be good for.

6/21/2005 10:24:18 AM

Montoursville, PA

In a pinch a lawn chair will shade the tips. Windy? Stake them or use weight as needed to prevent roll aways.

6/21/2005 11:57:47 AM

San Diego

the temp depends on the heat tolerance of your plant and where you grow (climate). The farther south you go, the hotter the sun gets with less angle in the sky. A grower in canada can have 80 degree temps and be fine, 80 degrees in San Diego, where I live, it can burn new growth very easy. Jimmy

6/21/2005 1:56:36 PM