Tomatoes in August?

[yardiron]

I'm in southern NJ and the Garden Monsters and San Marzanos here are about done, maybe a picking or two left at best.
Its the second year in a row where they seem to be coming to an early end. In many years past, I usually had tomatoes into late Oct or early Nov. but this year has been strange, we had a few hot spells, then mid July the cool nights started and we've had a ton of rain, nearly every other night we got blasted so the garden stayed wet all the time.
Beans are also done, but Cucumbers/Pickles are going super strong, so much so I didn't bother to plant a second planting. I've bottled up over 30 jars of pickles and about 30 gallons of tomato sauce so far.

The Okra is just getting rolling though, my basil, both the June planting and the late July planting are both producing heavy, and the first planting of spinach and swiss chard are both slowing down but still growing and giving me a few pickings every week.

I may rethink the tomatoe situation next year, maybe they will move to a new location vs in the main garden, its time to do a reset crop, likely beans, peas, and some herbs for next year.

 

[Meadowlark]

I may rethink the tomatoe situation next year, maybe they will move to a new location vs in the main garden, its time to do a reset crop, likely beans, peas, and some herbs for next year.

I always enjoy reading your posts @yardiron.

FWIW, I have been following my tomato crop with a rotation of beans each year for a long time now....and it works for me. I grow my tomatoes next to a cattle panel trellis. On one side of the trellis, I grow tomatoes...and on the other side I grow beans that utilize the trellis. The beans also help give late summer shade to the tomatoes which is very helpful. In winter both sides of the trellis grow a cover crop of a legume which is turned under every spring.

I add some composted cow manure to both sides annually, and it is ready for another season. No fertilizers needed but I do add Epsom salts during the tomato growing season. Great tasting tomatoes that average 30 pounds of fruit per each plant...pretty much bug free with Basil plants interspersed with the tomato plants.

And one very nice benefit is I never have to move the trellis!

It works for me!