And now you know why I'm trying wrapped cages this year. The last two years my tomatoes have been really beaten up. So far so good but I have to use 3 t-posts to keep them from blowing away.

Wind was bad today! I finally have my tomatoes and peppers in. Glad I waited. I think that hail storm a few nights ago would have destroyed the garden if I had planted.

You guys concerned about a possible freeze in the next few nights? Weathermen think we might get rather chilly Sunday night.

Chea...we had floods & tornadoes in TN. Not fun...used my lunch break to speed home and save my babies before the storms got them! =) Luckily, they are still in 16 oz cups being hardened off. Whew!

Ref - This year I have 9 plants, all facing south and down the side of my house. Of those 9, one took a beating from hail with several leaves split, but is still standing tall. Then yesterday that same plant is big enough that the leaves that touch the bottom rung of the cage are really battered looking from wind whipping them up against the metal cage. It still has a cluster of blooms on it so I remain hopeful it will survive. All the others are rocking along as if nothing ever happened, wierd! I may try shebear's cage wrapping next year and just leave them wrapped until mid April to save them the weather challenges. Sunday night could be a problem...it was 39 last night at my place and that seemed ok even uncovered...but any lower than that and you've got trouble.

I'm just south of Austin and the wind battered my plants as well. I was furious! First we have the up and down weather, now I have to try to patch up whatever plants took a beating.

I have one plant that was laying down on the ground, it's main stem nearly broken in two. It's now tied to a stake. My single container plant lost nearly all of its leaves. It is tied to a stake now also, but I can't be sure that it will make it. It is the second plant in that container as the first broke in two due to the wind.

So, yeah, I can relate. The weather is not cooperating for us this year. I guess I shouldn't get too mad as I was able to avoid the hail a week ago.

Give me your thoughts. I was thinking about getting those clear 55gal garbage bags. Put the opened bag down, poke hole for the plant, plant the plant, then stick the cages into the bag. Raise the bag up around the cage and clothes-spin the bag to top of cage with enough of extra bag to close the top if need be. Does anyone see a problem? I would keep the top open during the day, but be able to close them in case of hail/snow.

I sympathize with you. So many obstacles to overcome. And the blistering heat is not too far away.

I built a cloche or low tunnel over my raised bed this year to help with the early season extremes. I plan on using it again this weekend. For those with short growing seasons such structures can make a big difference.

Pete

Standard practice for me when starting is 5 gal bucket over them and a rock on the bucket. On and off every day until they are sturdy enough to stand alone or with a cage tied to a steel fence post.

Pete: what materials and construction method did you use? After this year, I think I may want to do that next year.

One of these years, North Texans will get some good tomato growing weather. If we can make it past Sunday night, we might be in good shape.

Last April and May the winds were hot and strong. The tomamto plants were literally being dehydrated faster than the plants could absorb water. That was also the time frame when flowering was occuring, resulting in massive blossom drop.

Well I never breath easy until after MayFest. I still remember that baseball sized hail they had. The video of windshields being smashed and people running for cover is permanently burned into my cerebellum. After Memorial Day the wind and rain will stop and if any tomatoes have managed to set, we can start the countdown.

Jerry,

Here are some different variations both for raised beds and without. You could put one of these together before the freeze hits. Go to one of the big box stores and look for plastic sheeting to cover. Try the 1mm or 2mm, the thicker the more protection but less transmission of sunlight.

ALSO if you leave the plastic on during the day make sure it is well VENTED! Also make sure the plastic DOESN'T TOUCH your plants. You can also cover them with a tarp if you have one or use blankets. Earlier in the year I closed mine up and put a candle in for the night to add extra heat.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1984-09-01/Undercover-Device-The-Cloche.aspx

http://www.mofga.org/Default.aspx?tabid=844

http://westsidegardener.com/howto/cloche.html

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/ec/ec1627-e.pdf