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I wrote in 2019 that it was a weird year and a bad year for tomatoes. A cold spring and a very hot, dry June. Well, this year is becoming a repeat of 2019, with a cold spring and now a very hot June with no rain in sight. I considered 2019 “weird” since it seemed an unusual event. But it might simply have been the first of a new normal of extreme swings in weather. A cold spring slows down tomato growth, flowering and fruit. Cutting the season short and reducing crop size. And no rain means more watering needed, increasing cost of the garden both fiscally and in labor. This June has been very hot. Which has accelerated tomato growth over 2019, but it also has necessitated more watering. Que Sera, Sera.

  • Tomato Growth in Late May 2020
  • Tomato Growth in Late June 2021
Weather matters. Above photos show tomatoes in June 2021 are about the same size as tomatoes in May 2020. A month behind in development compared to 2020.

  • First Tomato Flowers May 2020
  • First Tomato Flowers June 2021
Weather matters. Above photos show first tomato flower appearance in May 2020 were over a month ahead in development compared to this year, June 2021.

  • My garden tomatoes
    First Ripening Tomatoes July 2019
  • First Ripening Tomatoes May 2020
  • First Ripening Tomatoes June 2021
Weather matters. Above photos show first tomato fruit development happening in May 2020. A month ahead of this year, June 2021, and over a month ahead in development compared to July 2019.