07/27/2026
I'll be bringing over 100 pounds of fresh tomatoes to the Jasper Farmers Market this week. Most of these came off my second planting of 25 Celebrity Plus plants.(First picture) The last two pictures are the first planting in the hoop house, which are still producing, but have slowed way down. This time of year can be brutal on tomato plants. Consistent watering is one of the most important ways to combat 100 degree temperatures, and blossom end rot can easily occur due to lack of water. The plant will steal moisture from the bottom of the tomato and move it to the top of the still growing vegetation. I water my plants everyday in these temperatures. (to stay very consistent). Another important trick is to pick the tomato at the first sign of color. Tomatoes will ripen just fine off the vine with little to no loss of flavor once they blush color. Leave a tomato too long and a vine ripe tomato will almost always suffer bug damage, as bugs seek out moisture in these dry conditions. You will also notice a healthy thick canopy of vegetation. On determine variety tomatoes you never want to trim of leaves, because these leaves provide shade for the fruit in the extreme sunlight.
