Tomato Cabana!

'Tis August and a gardener's thoughts turn, however reluctantly, to planting tomatoes.  Yes, it's hot.  Yes, it's humid.  Yes, the insects have a huge head start.  But now's the time to get tomato seedlings established here.  By the time they are mature enough to bear fruit, the nights (at least) should be cooler.  One hopes.

Rowdy plants in foreground: one (1) sweet potato slip!

Here's what I do to help protect little seedlings from the harsh August sun.  These are little scraps of fabric, bandanna-sized, clipped onto the tomato cages with clothespins.  As the tomatoes grow taller, I'll move the canopy up a rung higher on the cage.  The idea is to provide a little shade at least from the overhead sun until the weather moderates enough.  Plus, we think it's cute!  As a quilter, I have a huge stash of fabric in my closet.  I can always find something for a baby tomato.

What I'm growing this fall:

Sunchaser: a tomato specifically designed (by who, I wonder?) for the southeast US.  Should produce an 8-ounce fruit, maturing quickly at approximately 72 days. F1 hybrid.

Sweet Million - a cherry-style tomato, indeterminate, maturing in 65-75 days.  We've grown this one off and one with great success.  It's always a kick to have bowls of cherry tomatoes even at Thanksgiving. F1 hybrid.

Champion - another indeterminate tomato which should produce an 8-ounce fruit.  This one is also appropriate for hot climates.  F1 hybrid.

Carmello - a French tomato, also indeterminate, which should mature rather quickly (less than 75 days).  Open-pollinated. 

Tomato resolutions:  I will keep my tomatoes staked.  I will prune when necessary to keep tomatoes off the roof.  I will keep a watchful eye for insects -- they're keeping a watchful eye on me!