p.s- I usually mulch with grass clippings bout a 1/2 inch thick.

What the experienced gardeners here in NC told me was to plant two tomato crops -- a first season planted right after the last frost, which would set fruit until temperatures got scorching in late July, and a second season planted in July which would bear in September and October after the worst of the heat was gone.

Hi Wheayatwhodat,

Iam3killerbs is right about the practice of having two gowing seasons in the hotter zones. While those of us in cooler climates may still have tomatoes when your first set of plants have stopped producing, you have the advantage of a longer growing season and two crops to our one.

...make a small covering over the garden with clear visqueen...

If you wish to provide some shade or filter the sun for your plants, I would recommend shade cloth instead of visqueen. It is porous and will allow air and rain to pass through it. It comes in a variety of percentages, or the amount of sun it blocks. 30% will block about one third of the light hitting it, while 50% will block about half and so on.

I have a piece of knitted shade cloth that is about 5 years old now (average life is approximately 7 - 10 years) that I use to shade my transplants each year. My babies go out onto my transplant table and don't come back in unless really nasty weather is predicted.

{{gwi:1309916}}
Your mileage may vary. *wink*

Betsy

Here is a link that might be useful: Shade Cloth

ok great! thank u both so much!

bets- any suggestion on the shade cloth, as far as how much light should be filtered during those hot months?

For tomatoes to thrive and produce through the season here in Arizona. Its recommended to use 40-50% shade cloth to protect them from the afternoon sun. The cheapest place I have found to buy shade cloth so far is Gempler's.

Several people in the Arizona Forum have placed orders from them already this year myself included.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gemplers

cool thanks alot! God bless

Down here in Corpus Christi, TX it gets HOT. Last season my ground covering was a 3-4 inch layer of hay. I have an inexpensive automated drip irrigation system that I setup to target each plant. A majority of my plants would be in the unobstructed sun for 10 hours. As the temps rose I just increased my watering taking care not to over-water and I was successful. I considered shade cloth but never did get any and my tomatoes did well. I attribute my success to the thickness of my mulch and the slow and deep waterings in the morning.