tomato curly top virus « giantveggiegardener

Walll of waters

If you still have your tomatoes in wall of waters, take them off now because the temperatures are suppose to get into the 90’s next week and if that happens, it could fry your plants. I’m taking mine off the next few days.

Covering up the tomatoes with row cover.

Since we haven’t really had much rain to speak of, after I remove the wall of waters (WOWs), I will put cages on and wrap my cages in medium weight row cover (.55) from top to bottom completely covering the cage. This is to protect the tomato plants from getting exposed/bitten by the Beet Leafhopper which can give your plants CTV (curly top virus) which will be fatal to the plants. I will take the row covers off when the monsoon rains come in ernest which is usually just after July 4th weekend but has come earlier in some years. The bug seems to leave or get suppressed once the monsoons start.

Meanwhile June is getting it’s usual heatwave which is normal for June in the Santa Fe area. Come on rain!

Many of you are asking when can you take your row covers off your tomato plants. NOT YET-be patient

Leave row covers on tomatoes for now-I know we are all anxious to take them off. I leave mine on till the monsoons come and they are NOT here yet—occasional rain is not considered the monsoons and will not drive the leafhopper away. The leafhopper likes dry, hot, windy conditions (which we have now) so I’m sure it’s still around. The leafhopper kills tomato plants by biting your plant, giving it Curly Top Virus (CTV) which is fatal to your tomato plants. The row covers are a physical barrier so the bug can’t get to your plant. So for now, (sigh) I will leave them on even though I’m dying to remove them like you. Historically, the monsoons come somewhere around the 2nd week of July but it could come later too. Hopefully we won’t have to wait much longer.