We love us them 'maters, but from what I understand, they need a certain minimum temperature during the night to properly set fruit.
Here on Kwaj, it gets down to only about 78 degrees F. I’m not concerned about the heat, as we almost never get above high 90s, but I am concerned about the low temps.
Do any of you think that I would have success trying to grow these things here? Any suggestions?
Tomatoes don’t really need a minimum tmeperature * per se*. I’ve seen tomatoes fruiting in Darwin in January. At that time the temperature probably hasn’t dropped below 80oF for more than a few minutes in the past 4 months.
What tomatoes are sensitive to is early heat. If the day warms up too fast they will often drop flowers. IIRC the critical temperature is 33oC within 6 hours of sunrise. It’s something like that anyway. Since you are saying that you never get above about 35oC I don’t think you need to worry excessively. Just select a tropical variety and make sure you plant them somewhere where they don’t get the morning sun.
You can give them a spritz of Fruit Set which is a hormone, that will increase the fruit set dramaticly on plants in adverse conditions. Seed companies and garden centers carry it. Fruit Set is made by Ortho, and I don’t know, if it is manufactured by another company. You want a minimum night temperature of 70’s to start reproduction in a tomato.
I grow tomatoes here in Texas all summer long. It was 105 today and it’s at least 85 right now at 1:45 in the a.m. I’ve never had a problem with the night temperatures. I plant right after Easter, start getting fruit at the first of the summer and will have tomatoes until our first frost in november. During the summer here, the nights rarely if ever get below 80 degrees. The secret I think is to plant them DEEP and mulch them well. I prefer pine straw and/or grass clippings. It holds the moisture prevents weeds and keeps the soil temperature more constant. Lots of other things you can do as well. I never use "miracle grow or pesticides and always have an excellent crop. Good luck
to add… before and after summer, the temperatures here drop dramatically. I have raised tomatoes in weather so cold it was nearly freezing for days and sometimes even weeks at a time. Production is greatly reduced of course but as long as there’s plenty of sun and the roots are stable they seem to do okay. Like I said before, I had fresh tomatoes last year at Thanksgiving. Prune the suckers and dead growth, earthworms and ladybugs are good too. Water should be consistent as well.
I am further encouraged that this will be possible. Deep, they will be planted, and I think I will not pinch off as many suckers as I do in Florida, this might help mitigate the effects of the equatorial sun.
Since you’re still onboard I thought of something else you might try on for size. As the weather here get’s unbearable, like it is now. The plants appreciate some evening shade. Try a privacy fence on the west side. Also top the plants occasionally. It helps the stalk get big and the plant will bush out and make it’s own shade.
Then again you probably know all this but I just thought I’d let those who don’t have a few tips.
Yeah, that’s a good thought about the fence for some shade. I need to get back up tot he north end of the island and take another look at my soon-to-be back yard. I think there’s a large coconut palm near the west side which should take care of that, but can’t remember right now. Thanks again!
SnakesCatLady: You bring up a very good point. Those cherry and grape tomatoes were not only hardier in Florida when we gre 'em, but they did very well in large pots, too, and they are my wifey’s favorite tomato. I wasn’t even thinking of them, so thanks and I’ll be sure to order some of those seeds, too. P.S. I’ve read a lot of your posts, and it is a pleasure and privilege to have you visit my poor little thread.
Forgot to mention I’m not much of a night owl, it’s just the time difference. For instance, right now it’s 5:05 pm Friday. We’re just a few hours behind the states. But a day ahead.
Wow. That is the nicest thing anyone has said to me since I’ve been here. I was kinda down today, and you sure cheered me up. Thank you very much, kind sir!