Hi...WE are back to 26 degrees today and I have been out in the greenhouse where its too hot for me and although all my fans are going I think one can see my plants are suffering and i am really wondering if I should do some reorganisation of where MY own plants are as to the Mature plants purchased..I wonder if I am taking things too far or whether i should be changing things ..
the sun is directly down into the centre of my greenhouse ....
At a guess maybe the bigger more mature plants which at present do have some cover ...should be put in a row in the middle of my greenhouse and hopefully I can get some views on this ASAP please ......and any comments of the sun effect on plants because I know this sun today would burn me to a crisp ....thats why I am watching cricket instead of outside working ..IE until the sun moves over and it cools down...Regards Ron

How hot is it getting in the greenhouse?
Why you would want to move the more mature (larger?) plants into the middle?

I have often read here that people in the south, where it gets very hot, use something to shade the plants when necessary.

I think the first negative effect of the heat will be trouble setting new fruit. Tomato plants can live at high temperatures, provided they don't dry out, but fruit-set will stop. The pollen clumps together and does not transfer correctly inside the flower.

Hi...I will have to hang a thermometer in there.....I was thinking more of the direct sun that the actual heat ..The fans going should help but I think I should move the mature plants against the north side which does have partial sun protection in the mid afternoon while maybe I should make up an overhead blind for the odd day like yesterday that I can pull over the top of my younger plants and protect them from the sun......I just checked the 10 day forecast and Thursday is listed as another 26 degree day...while tomorrow and Tuesday are 14 degrees.
I am changing the top soil on my plants and hope I get that done today and thats that...no more experimenting ....I am quite pleased with the actual moisture of the plant soil which I get a good indication of as I change it...After 3 ripe tomatoes there is nothing coming on too eat which disappoints me....I love the Tasty Toms? Regards Ron

My Staking???
 

Hi...Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year ....Thought I better let you know the greenhouse is 28 degrees today...24 yesterday ....I have worked everyday finishing my crop and staking ...Do not know if you will like my staking but have attached photos..May have to post in two separate posts.....I wanted teepee style and made a mistake straight away by buying 2400mm bamboo stakes ....Now I have been buying long (2metre plus) hollow tubing like 16 - 20mm alloy .plastic etc from the tip shop all year and have now realised I should have being buying shorter pieces as well IE 500 - 700mm lengths...
I now believe that using hollow tubing as sub staking and the putting bamboo in is the best...(see photos attached) and its economical....Anyway the photos will show how I have done it...Cheers Ron

More Staking...
 

I should point out that I have ordered a 45cm Hula hoop as a spreader instead of making them ...First I want to see if the hula hoop will work...Ron

[SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS]I have used the hollow tubes sunk into the ground then putting the 3 legs of a tall tomato cage into them- it works very well and is better to have the extra space at the tops of the plants--when you bring the tops together as a teepee the top growth is very crowded.[/FONT][/SIZE]

Hi..Jo...Yes ..I do not know why initially I never thought of using hollow tubes ..Its working for me so far....My objective is to have my Tomato plant in a drum and staked with no interference from anything....So i can turn it around and put it anywhere I want within the concrete base of my greenhouse...Re the teepee at the top I do not know yet if i actually will need to tie the three stakes at the top....If I can get 45 cm Hula hoops at a good price I could put two on each teepee and tie them in and bring the stakes together at the top...Extra plant support could be provided by Ties...I got the Hollow tube from the Habitat for Humanity shop at the entrance to the local city Tip...IE Rubbish Dump..
Cheers Ron
PS...I used the worst plant I have in case i damaged it... I really struggled to lift it up to take photos....Its now back in the greenhouse slightly damaged...

my gace supports
 

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]I found this photo from last year- I have many metal tubes of various lengths that I saved from a greenhouse- the plastic cover tore up from our winds. I have found endless uses for the tubes! Since we have awful winds here they really work to hammer into the soil then just slip tomato cage legs into them.[/SIZE][/FONT]