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THE BULLETIN • SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022 C3 Gardening corner ANNIVERSARY August can be a confusing time for tomato growers BY LIZ DOUVILLE For The Bulletin Readers who have fol- lowed the gardening column over the years know it must be mid-August. Mid to late August has turned into the traditional time to talk about tomato problems. For many readers it is a review and for new tomato growers it might be an awareness to a problem you may be having. Tomatoes got off to a slow start this year. The tempera- ture range was inconsistent when we were thinking of put- ting out starts. We had normal temperatures for a short pe- riod, then almost two weeks of 100-degree weather which confused the plants, as well as the gardener. Tomato plants grow best when the temperatures are under 90 degrees. When the temperature reaches tempera- tures above that range, blos- som set slows down. Watering may also be a reason the blos- som set is minimal. Tomatoes have a deep root system and need deep watering. Shallow watering can weaken the root system and the ability to pro- duce blossoms. Avoid water- ing daily. Best practice is to water deeply several times a week to allow root systems to grow strong. What can go wrong and right This year I experienced blossom-end rot at the be- ginning of the season. Blos- som-end rot shows itself as a gray to black spot on the blos- som end (opposite the stem) of the tomato. It can develop on the green fruit as well as the ripe. The condition is caused due to deficiency in the uptake of calcium, which is in the soil. Moisture stress either from very wet or very dry conditions contrib- ute to how the calcium is delivered to the plant. More fer- tilizer would not be the answer. Toma- toes are not heavy feeders. Low nitrogen (the first num- ber of a fertilizer formula) is applied at planting and again when tomatoes need the extra energy to set fruit. Fruit cracks or tomato split- ting is also a problem caused by our generosity with water. Sometimes I think we are our own worst garden enemy. I know that on those days of over 100, I was sure the toma- toes in the greenhouse needed more water when what they really needed was an im- proved cooling system. The sudden uptake of water causes internal fruit tissues to grow faster than the skin, causing the skin to crack or split. The fruit is still edible. Catfacing is a term used to describe misshapen fruit with irregular bulges at the blos- som end and bands of leath- ery scar tissue. Cold weather at the time of blossom set distorts and kills certain cells that should develop into fruit, resulting in the deformities. Most common in the large- fruited “beefsteak” tomatoes. Zippering is a thin, dark line connecting the stem and blossom ends that develops on the fruit. It is caused by poor pollination due to cold tem- peratures. Physiological leafroll sounds and looks alarming. Leafroll occurs when the edges of the leaves roll upward and inward. Some- times it may curl to the op- posite side. It is a self-defense method of preventing further water loss. Leafroll does not reduce plant growth, yield, or fruit quality. It is believed to result from irregular water supply and may be intensified follow- ing pruning. The symptoms may be temporary, but can persist throughout the grow- ing season. The underlying fear of all tomato growers is that we wake up to discover we have had a visit from a tomato hornworm, the caterpillar of the five-spotted hawkmoth (Manduca quinquenmaculata) also known as the humming- bird or sphinx moth. Horn- worms looks like a mini pre- historic monster, are up to 5 inches long bright green with a black horn on its posterior. They feed on the leaves and can defoliate an entire plant. I have also found them on the fruit. They are masters of camouflage, blending ex- tremely well with the plant. Be sure and look under the Plan your 2023 Getaway! 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Local climte a benefit, too We complain about our short and sometimes difficult grow- ing season but we need to keep in mind our positive points. We have a minimum amount of slugs and snails, which usu- ally have arrived in a plant we purchased. Our humidity is so low that we aren’t plagued with the variety of plant viruses and fungal diseases that other areas have to manage. That in itself is a big plus. A big myth that still circu- lates is that to ripen a tomato you place it on the window sill in the sunshine. The best method is to leave it on the countertop but out of the sun and please don’t refrigerate them. They will do much bet- ter in an attractive bowl or a basket lined with a paper towel. █ Email Liz Douville at douville@bendbroadband.com Submitted photo Carlos and Gwenn Wysling of Bend celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Aug. 20. The couple were married Aug. 20, 1992, at the Brazilian Room in the Berkeley Hills in California. They have traveled to 30 countries in their three decades together. They have lived in Central Oregon for 15 years. The Bulletin welcomes your announcements. Forms for engagement, wedding, anniversary or birthday announcements are available at bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/milestones. Forms and photos must be submitted within one month of the celebration for publication in a Sunday edition. Questions? Call 541-383-0304 or email milestones@bendbulletin.com. Your guide to food, arts and entertainment in Central Oregon Pick up Thursday’s Bulletin for weekly event coverage and calendars
