Success starts with a healthy feeding of organic fertilizer like MicroLife Ultimate 8-4-6 paired with a liquid fertilizer such as Ocean Harvest! Seaweed-based liquid fertilizers help plants tolerate heat stress while improving pest and disease resistance. I highly recommend doing a weekly liquid drench or foliar spray for optimal plant health.

Mulch is crucial for retaining moisture, regulating soil temperatures, and suppressing weeds.

Water slowly and deeply a few times a week early in the morning to reduce evaporation and encourage deeper roots rather than daily superficial watering.

Once temperatures reach 92 degrees and above, a natural response called blossom drop occurs to save energy and plants will recover once temperatures cool.

Invest in a quality, light colored shade cloth to protect plants from excessive heat. 40% shade cloths works well for most gardens, while 60% is better for more arid climates. Avoid darker shade clothes as they trap heat below.

Throughout the season, remove crispy or damaged leaves to improve airflow and reduce hiding places for pests and disease.

You can plant your fall tomatoes in Texas between late June and early August. Remove the shade cloth once temperatures cool below 92 and enjoy another productive harvest!