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| Q. Why are my tomatoes splitting? |
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| A. We see this a
lot after a spell of dry weather. The tomato continues to produce
new cells. When it rains, the cells fill with water faster than
its skin can expand, causing it to split. The tomato is fine to
eat if you pick it right away. After a few days it will start to
ferment. The key to avoid splitting is to provide even moisture.
New cells are always forming. In rainy weather, they fill with water
faster than the skin can expand.
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 Plumbago
(Plumbago auriculata)
When the weather heats up from late spring through early fall
most of our landscape color options are in the yellow to red
color range. Cool blue shades are hard to come by. Plumbago
is a heat tolerant annual/perennial that blooms all summer,
producing mini bouquets of phlox-like flowers in a beautiful
shade of sky blue. It forms a 3-foot mound but can grow larger.
Give it a moderate amount of moisture and some protection from
the late day sun for best results. A white blooming form is
also available. It will often return from the ground in spring
if mulched well or in a protected location, but is not considered
dependably hardy in central Texas.
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<<view past Plants
of the Week
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- It’s time to move the mower blades up. The taller the
grass, the deeper the root system. If you mow too short, you’ll
have shallow roots that are more prone to grub damage and drought.
- If you haven’t mulched shrubs and trees, this is a great
time to do it. Along with retaining soil moisture and fending
off weeds, it keeps the lawnmower and string trimmer at a distance
to avoid harmful nicks.
- Be sure to provide adequate moisture for new trees and shrubs.
While they establish their roots this summer, check the soil weekly.
When it’s dry, provide a slow deep drench.
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