05/09/2024
As an "old" gardener I always like to pass on what I have learned if someone is new or anxious about growing their vegetable garden. One of the most important things is not so eager to plant early! Your plants need a bit more protection from cool nights. Central Ohio will be in the 40's for the next 3 nights, starting tomorrow. Tomatoes and especially peppers don't like that and it can slow down their production for the life of the plant. So if, you have already put them in, try to protect them, maybe with a 5 gallon bucket and an old blanket over it before the heat of the day is completely gone.
I have copied and pasted part of a study from The Ohio State University that backs up what I learned by trial and error some years back.
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Ohio is well suited for tomato production, and was once ranked second in the nation for processing tomatoes. In addition, tomatoes are widely grown for fresh market by Ohio farmers and gardeners. Tomatoes are warm-season plants and should be planted only after danger of frost has passed unless you are prepared to protect them in the event of a frost. Typically, that date for central Ohio is May 20. The planting time for southern Ohio can be one to two weeks earlier, while the planting time for northern Ohio is one week later. The date does not necessarily mean it is the date when there is no danger of frost at all. There is still a 50 percent or less chance of frost on this date. The odds of a frost event will typically drop an additional 10 percent for each week past this date.
Air temperature is an important factor in the production of tomatoes, which are particularly sensitive to low night temperatures and extremely high temperatures. Blossom drop can occur in early spring when daytime temperatures are warm, but night temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
This phenomenon will occur during the summer as well, when daytime temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures are above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
