Summer can be challenging for gardeners, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

"Spring is easy--cool weather, no bugs, gentle rains, a few weeds--all is good," said Ron Wolford. "Summer is a different story--raging storms, heat, drought, waves of bugs and disease."

Wolford offered some tips to help gardeners deal with these challenges to cucumbers and tomatoes.

"Protect cucurbit crops--cucumbers, melons, squash, and pumpkins--from cucumber beetles and their payload of cucumber wilt with floating row covers after planting," he said. "Make sure to remove the row cover after the plants have begun flowering so that they can be pollinated."

The base of tomato plants should be mulched with plastic sheets. This keeps the soil warmer, conserves moisture, and helps protect the tomatoes from diseases spread by water splashing onto the soil.

"Some studies have shown that using red plastic mulch can actually increase the yield of tomato plants," he noted.

Blossom-end rot causes the blossom end of the tomato to turn brown and black. This is not a disease. It is a calcium deficiency caused by high temperatures and fluctuating soil moisture levels.

"It usually occurs on the first ripening fruits," Wolford said. "Water tomatoes consistently with the equivalent of one inch of water per week to avoid fluctuating levels of soil moisture. Mulches will also help to conserve moisture."

Tomato cracking is caused by changes in growth rate. Last summer, the most likely cause of cracking was the fluctuations in temperature and the rain pattern. Giving the tomatoes the one inch of water they need each week will reduce the problem. There are also several crack-resistant varieties such as "Jetstar" and "Pink Girl."

"Tomato blossom drop is very common with high summer temperatures," he said. "Tomatoes will drop blossoms when daytime temperatures in the summer are above 90 degrees F. Blossoms will also drop earlier in the growing season when night temperatures drop below 55 degrees F.

"There is really nothing you can do except to wait for cooler temperatures."

The highest-quality tomatoes develop when temperatures average 75 degrees F. Tomatoes may get mushy and not color well when temperatures are above 90 degrees F.

"During hot weather, pick tomatoes when they have a healthy pink color and let them ripen indoors," Wolford said.

Source: Ron Wolford, Unit Educator, Urban Horticulture and Environment, rwolford@uiuc.edu