TS> Oh, I didn't realise that others were having problems this year.  I
TS> assumed it was because I was late getting them into the ground.  Why
TS> was this year so awful for tomatoes?
  It was a late cold spring and continued into a cool summer, until the
  hot weather struck with a vengeance. Both extremes are hard on
  tomatoes.
TS> My cucmbers did excellent this summer....as did my peppers.
  My cukes almost died when we were away. They did poorly, and the
  damage to my second crop of peppers was enormous from insects.
TS> I didn't get around to mulching my tomatoes.  Would you say that helps
TS> to keep the dry soil problem down?  Or are there other reasons to mulch?
  I mulch to even out soil moisture fluctuations, and because NORMALLY
  bug damage is less, and because it keeps the weeds down.
TS> SP> better than the supermarket green baseballs sold as imported winter
TS> SP> tomatoes. :-)
TS> Oh, I whole heartily agree.  Even tho I'm complaining, my neighbors, who
TS> enjoyed the same tomatoes said they were delicious.  Only I, who have
TS> had many planting seasons behind me, know the difference.  :) Trudy
  Home gardens spoil us for supermarket blands, don't they? :-)
                   ...Sandra...
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