Make plans to take cover

I never thought I’d have to say this here: It was actually too hot to set tomatoes this summer. And too cold.

According to National Weather Service data for Spokane, we had nearly two weeks of temperatures below 55 degrees at night in mid-June. In July, we had 11 days that saw temperatures above 90 degrees and five days with night temperatures below 55 degrees. In the first 20 days of August, 12 days were above 90, while six of the last 10 nights dipped below 55 degrees.

So what is the deal? Tomatoes and many other vegetables need certain day and night temperatures to properly set fruit. With tomatoes, they must have night temperatures higher than 55 degrees but daytime temperatures lower than 90. When either of these extremes happens the result is an uneven fruit set. This is why we had some fruit form in late June and early July but not much after that until just recently.

“It’s not their fault,” says Janice Thorson who raises all kinds of produce in her Glenrose Gardens to sell at the Moran Prairie Farmers’ Market. “The temperatures were either too low or too high to set fruit on tomatoes.” According to the production records Thorson keeps, she took only 66 pounds of tomatoes to the market on a recent Sunday where in 2003 she took 125 pounds. “We are two weeks behind where we should be.”

So here’s the challenge. How do we find those lost two weeks when our first average frost date is Sept. 15 – five days from today? We have to fool Mother Nature a bit and then hope that we get our traditional few weeks of warm weather after a first frost or a very late first frost all together.

Start by trimming back some of the green foliage on the plants and reduce watering. “I want to get just as much sun on the tomatoes as I can now,” says Thorson. By removing some of the leafy tops and withholding some water you also signal the plant that it’s time to start ripening fruit and not growing leaves.

Plan on covering plants with floating row cover (Remay) on cool days and at night to hold in heat. Simply drape the fabric over the top and sides of the plants and their supports, let it hang to the ground and secure it against wind gusts with rocks or bricks. Thorson usually removes her covers during the day but you can leave the plants covered for the duration of the season if you want.

By using row cover, you can raise the temperature by as much as ten degrees around the plants during the day and keep them warmer overnight. I have had good luck staving off 26 degree freezes using this method. This method can also be used on many other late ripening crops like peppers, eggplants and other small slow-ripening vegetables.

Floating row cover is a fabric of spun polyester fibers that lets light and water still reach the plants. For those of you who sew, it resembles polyester interfacing used to reinforce parts of clothing. It’s available at most garden supply centers at a reasonable cost. With careful handling it should last a couple of seasons at least.

The cover is better than plastic or other covers because it can be left on during the day. Plastic can be used for frost protection at night but can heat up too much during the day. Other covers like boxes or other opaque materials will block light and may heat up too much.

The Friends of Manito Fall Plant Sale

Bring your wagons. Bring your trucks. Bring what ever you have to carry off plants because tomorrow, Saturday September 11 is The Friends of Manito Fall Plant Sale at the service area east of the Gaiser Conservatory at Manito Park.

More than 400 varieties of houseplants, perennials and grasses will be for sale, many of them new and unusual varieties. The sale will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All the proceeds go towards a variety of projects at the park.

Here are a few tips to make the most of the sale:

Check out the list of plants available ahead of the sale at the TFM website: www.thefriendsofmanito.org.

Bring a wagon or cart to make transporting your new treasures easier. Boxes will be available.

Consider using a fanny pack to keep your hands free.

Come early if you’re looking for a specific plant since some perennials will be in short supply.

To avoid the crowds, come in the afternoon and miss the morning frenzy.

If you aren’t yet a member, consider joining The Friends of Manito so you can shop at the members’ early sale from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sign up that morning at the table near the entrance. Dues are $30 for an individual and $35 for a family.