Getting Second Crop of Tomatoes in the Hot Desert

Q. Is it possible to get more tomatoes on my plants in the fall? What needs to be done to produce them?

Tomato was pruned back in late Summer to stimulate new growth and new flowering and fruit set when the temperature cools below 95F.

A. Yes, you can get a second crop from the existing plants by cutting existing plants back or start new plants directly in the garden from seed. Here’s how to do it.

Plant Seed

            If you plant seed directly in the garden to replace existing plants do it now. Plant an early variety from seed such as the ‘Early Girl’. Rake the surface of the soil to create some ridges and put a group of 3 to 4 seeds, 6 inches from the base of some existing plants you plan to remove. This is for shade. You only want one plant to remain from this group when starting them from seed.

            Cover each group of seed with a quarter inch layer of sand mixed with compost. Water the seeded areas by hand three or four times during the day while it’s hot. Reduce watering to once a day when the seedlings emerge. Remove all other seedlings in a group except the most vigorous. Lightly fertilize the remaining plant when it’s 2 inches tall. The Early Girl tomato plant should start flowering in about 50 –60 days.

Pruning Back

            When cutting back existing tomatoes make sure they are healthy. Cut them back sometime around early to mid-September when it’s no longer unbearably hot. Remove the top one third of the plant by cutting just above aside shoot. Spray the plants with a liquid fertilizer early in the morning. They should start producing flowers and fruit in about 3 to 4 weeks.