Tracy,

I agree that you can't let them go unsupported too long or they become a tangled mess. I try to cage mine the same day I plant them. The only downside to that is that, even with a average last frost date of March 27th, I have had to cover up the plants with a Reemay frost blanket for late frosts the first week in May for the last 4 years. It is a lot harder to cover up plants in 8' tall tomato cages than it would be to cover up uncaged plants.

How hot are your temperatures there now and how much longer will your tomato season last? We're already staying in the mid-70s at night and hitting the low- to mid-90s during the days, and it started earlier than usual. I was sort of hoping the heat wouldn't arrive as early as it has, but what can you do? You get the weather you get.

I don't grow ground cherries, but I am sure someone here does and can tell you about how much space they need. I know that the native ones that grow in pastures around us spread out much more laterally than they grow vertically. In a rainy year they may get 2 to 3' wide and maybe 1.5 to 2' tall. That's when grown in native pasture land with clay soil, no irrigation and no fertilization. In a dry year they are pretty scrawny.

Dawn

We've had incredibly cool temps this year Dawn, no worse than yours! My husband just made a shade tent for my tomatoes yesterday, since I'm working in all new garden beds. Last week we had our first few, 100 degree days. Then, we had an amazing two days at 84 with night temps in the high 50s. I'm afraid that was our last little teaser before summer so I'm doing all my harder garden maintenance before it gets over 100 towards the the middle of the week.
I do have about 50 old sheets from when I had a medical practice so I do have some easy covers for plants in cages. I use the sheets for my eggplants and peppers all winter, which are in those cheap tomato cages and clip them on with clothespins or something stronger. Works great unless we get a real hard freeze!

I'm growing ground cherries for the first time this year. About half of them I've caged and, the other half, I've planted along a fence trellis so that I can tie them up as they grow. From what I've been told & read, they're similar to tomatoes in the support they need. Of course, like tomatoes, you can let them sprawl but most prefer to cage or otherwise support them.

Like I said, this is my first year growing them so I have no personal experience... yet.

Diane

Tracy, What do you do with ground cherries?

I have no idea what to do with ground cherries. This is my first year growing them. They seem to have some very devoted followers, unlike garden huckleberries. I'm planning on trying them fresh and for pies and jams.
I planted a few chiquilteberries, which are a garden huckleberry, but I think I'm going to regret wasting the space as it sounds like most people dislike the taste with a passion. Of course, I didn't find that out until they were in the garden!
This fall I'm going to start some blackberry bushes. AZ is limited on the fruits we can grow. It's great for citrus but not quite enough chill hours for most stone fruits and if you take the chance with true tropicals you're liable to lose everything on winters like this past one. Besides, I'm in moving soon mode, just like when I was military.
I may have to get myself a fig tree and heck, maybe a pomegranate since they both do well and fruit quickly here.