I'm not familiar with Texas, and you don't show your zone, but in any case, the whacky weather this year is unpredictable everywhere in the country. That being said, depending on you heat, that's what I would do. Just try to keep the even moisture level they need. Some varieties are more tolerant than others of the heat. Mine usually shut down during 90+, but some will start blooming again when things go lower, and over winter here where it doesn't freeze. Depending on how serious (and wealthy) you are, many of us that grow orchids use Aluminet shade cloth. It can be ordered on line for any %, and custom sizes. The aluminum woven in the black helps reflect the sun/heat. It isn't cheap, but it's hard to find lower % shade cloth at your local box stores. If you can find 40%, go for it.

Gowacky said:Here it is nearly the 1st of June and I'm way behind! I've had to plant new plants and they are just 2 weeks in the ground now. As June forward gets so hot I felt using a shade cloth was the only chance I have for making anything or maybe just getting them through the heat and ready for a fall crop. I'm thinking of covering my plants w a 40% shade cloth.

Any comments are welcome.

We are fixing to do the same. I think it is 50% and it will be set up to block the afternoon sun. I'm experimenting with taller plants on the west side of my raised beds, like okra shading peppers for the hottest part of the afternoon.




This is an older picture where we took the shade cloth out to see of it was long enough. It is draped on the fence for now but we will extended it out in a few more weeks.



Plants are a lot taller now!

The excess rain has claimed its first victim: JD's Special C-Tex, the only plant of that variety that germinated and was very small to begin with succumbed to too much water from the sky. One down with 19 more doing well.

Here's my finished product . My garden shaded and using old shade cloth to protect from our hot strong south wind. Unfortunately I made a number of mistakes and don't expect to make any tomatoes until hopefully fall. But I think this will help in the future .

Gowacky, if your tomato plants are still living and it looks like they are. You will have tomatoes long before Fall.

Hello Everyone
Hope to revive this thread, and ask a question....
Does anyone have experience with Opalka? Can you tell me if you were pleased with the flavor?
I'm trying them for the first time.

I had forgotten there even was an heirloom tomato thread. Never grown Opalka, sorry.

Thanks, Rita.
Good to hear from you, garden friend.
P.S.: on your recommendation, I've grown Shishito peppers this year. Prolific so far, but not harvested yet.

OK....I picked the first two Opalka heirloom tomatoes.
It's mid-August and the vines are vibrant and still producing blooms. Plants have sturdy stakes and are off the ground. While I see hornworm, fusariam blight & cracking on neighboring Cherokee Purple & Sungold Cherry tomatoes, there are none of these problems with Opalka.
Ripe tomatoes are firm and overall red with no green or tough shoulders.
Upon washing & slicing, I notice skin is not tough or thick. Very few seeds, mostly even red flesh that is NOT mealy. These are not an excessively juicy tomato.
Flavor is real old fashioned tomato. A light hint of sweetness, not acid tasting at all. When eaten alone, I detect a sweet after taste.
I predict I would use Opalka as a slicer for fresh serving; for paste, sauce, ketchup; in stews & soups; and, even freezing whole.
I will save seeds & grow again next year.

Excellent!!

Oh yes, Shishito plants set a lot of peppers. I really like them.

That looks like a great tomato! I've never heard of it, but will look for next year. (Yes, Heritage has it.) The new one I'm happiest with this year is an intermediate plant, not terribly prolific (which is okay, since i don't want to be inundated with tomatoes) The fruit is perfectly round, perfectly red, uniform, about 2" in diameter. It has a thin skin and tiny stem pith, hardly leaves a dimple when I quarter it for a sandwich plate. Just a really pretty tomato.
Too bad I lost the labels off the tray when I transplanted the seedlings, and Heritage Seeds doesn't put pictures on their package, and I lost some young plants when spring suddenly turned on us. Will have to save the last one for seed (my favourite thing about heirlooms)
Better pay closer attention next year...... !!!
.... n e x t y e a r....
...hard to believe

I've been harvesting tomatoes today.
Plants have been cut down tomatoes are dispersed to family & neighbors.
Cherokee Purple tomato: prone to fusariam blight-worst case I've ever experienced of any tomato grown. Lots of cracking seen on this variety. All told though, I have to admit, it's has the best old fashoned flavor. Ignore the green shoulders and just pick them before cracking & rot show up. The green shoulders never turn red for me. Be sure to stake them.
Opalka heirloom paste style tomato:
Impressed with flavor, resistance to disease, & (surprise) hornworm. This one is a teriffic producer. Also, use a sturdy stake system, plants are heavily loaded.

Sounds great. Will definitely try it.
My Cherokee - just the one - didn't perform spectacularly, but I had no cracking this year. The Brandywine grew enormously tall and brought forth two tomatoes all summer. Bananalegs peaked and fizzled early. San Marzano performed fairly well. The striped Germans and grape tomatoes were as reliable as usual. They're pretty much all sick now - molds got into the mulch and all over everything - but I'm still getting a few fruit.
Next year, I'll take care to space them better and hold off on the mulch. Maybe just stretch netting over the bins to keep the cat out.

I am not that much into growing heirlooms but I am growing one called Russian Queen this year. I have grown it before. Exceptionally productive and the tomatoes are quite pretty. I will have to get a picture of them to post here so everyone can see how pretty these are.

Here it is. This is Russian Queen. Pretty tomatoes.

Ooooh, those really are nice! Not very big - I prefer a smallish tomato, because it's neater to slice for salads and nachos or to serve alongside a grilled cheese sandwich. Wonder where I can get the seed - none of my usual suppliers carries it.

Serpent said:Ooooh, those really are nice! Not very big - I prefer a smallish tomato, because it's neater to slice for salads and nachos or to serve alongside a grilled cheese sandwich. Wonder where I can get the seed - none of my usual suppliers carries it.

I got it at a place called Ohio Heirloom Seeds. Never have seen it anywhere else. And my seeds now are old as I have had these for years.

Mostly Sasha's Altai, a Siberian heirloom that was slower to set than the hybrids, but is bearing like crazy. This is the yield of a single plant.

It had been two years since I checked out this thread, I see I was among the majority.

I tracked down the Russian Queen to a Canadian supplier of heirlooms, but of course it's out of stock. This time of year, nearly everything is: they're still drying and cleaning the season's new seed. I'll keep checking and order in the fall rather than wait till planting time.
Haven't collected much seed myself. My third-genreration Bananalegs (favourite low acid yellow) let me down and I served the last Cherokee Purple in expectation that there would be more. The San Marzano (my new favourite sauce tomato) is still producing, so I should have a couple of nice ones for seed. Still have several varieties from last year, so I'm all set to tackle next year's blood, sweat and tears.