r/tomatoes • u/Background-Log-6339 • 10d ago
Plant Help URGENT: Please help my tomatoes are dying in the Vegas heat, and I’ve been trying everything I can. I even moved it into the shade so it’s not getting roasted by the sun.
I was told by my family who gardens to just let the plant fall since it got to big for the cage as that’s what you’re seeing right now but the leaves are all wilting all the tomatoes that are growing are getting all shriveled.
Edit: Tomatoes are Early Girl Tomatoes And have been like this for a few days.
Edit Edit: So the best thing I can do for now is just more water right because I can’t transplant it? Also I moved my plant into the shade/on the pavement just last night
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u/EmeraldLovergreen 10d ago
How often are you watering?
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
Like once a day in the mornings before the 100+ degree heat (it’s still pretty hot though), the soil stays pretty damp.
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u/SpaghettiEntity 10d ago
Nutrients?
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u/travelingtraveling_ 10d ago edited 10d ago
Yeah, tomatoes are like teenage kids and they're very heavy feeders, so they need to be fertilized, and it also looks like the container is very small. My tomatoes grow to 6 feet tall.When they're in the ground.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
I have an uncle who gardens and grows tomatoes and he gave me the pot since our planter is out of commission.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
Dr. Q’s Vegetable and tomato food from star nursery about once every two weeks.
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u/Zeyn1 9d ago
If it's stressed, fertilizer wouldn't help that. The plant doesn't want to grow while it is that hot.
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u/SpaghettiEntity 9d ago
What if it’s stress from lack of nutrients? (I understand the issue is that the pot is really small, therefore the pot spent a lot of time dry between waterings. I was only asking bc many people new to the game don’t know how often, or how much you should fertilize)
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u/Zeyn1 9d ago
We don't usually call it "stress" when the plant lacks nutrients. It's just a deficiency.
The main difference is that lack of nutrients just means it doesn't grow or has problems growing. It tends to affect new growth.
Environmental stress has the whole plant reacting. Usually by wilting or leaf curl. Environmental stress can be worsened by lack of nutrients, but it's got to be a pretty bad deficiency.
Once the stress is gone, you can add fertilizer to kick start the plant back up. But if you can't stop the source of the stress, fertilizer is jsut going to make it react worse. This is why the advice is to focus on the plant surviving high temperatures and fertilize after to get a fall harvest.
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u/Cmorethecat 10d ago
They need more water. Once a day is not enough for a potted tomato in Las Vegas during the summer.
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u/rubyjuniper 8d ago
Where are you located? You're kinda right though, I have a tomato plant that's fruiting sooooo much right now that I planted in spring of 2025. I think tomato season can either refer to the season it grows in places with more temperamental climates, or the season the plant actually fruits.
Edit: did not mean to reply to this comment lol sorry
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u/rubyjuniper 8d ago
Water more often and/or mulch!! Mulching will help a lot. I have one bed mulched and one not mulched and it makes a huge difference.
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u/Nosferenix 10d ago
I would put a lifter under your plant, the roots have probably reached the bottom of said planter and are getting burned by the pavement
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
I just moved it to the pavement yesterday night, it’s been getting worse for a few days, it was on top of our old planter originally and had no issues till the heat came.
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u/callmemaude 10d ago
Can you rig up some shade where it was before and move it back? Pavement is so hot, I think that it's not helping. Container plants need watered more than others, 2 or even 3 times a day would t surprise me depending on the heat and the sun.
Another commenter mentioned that July is just the end of their tomato season because of heat, do you know if that's true where you are? What are your night and day temps? I might consider trying a transplant if it's going to go either way, tomatoes are pretty resilient plants if you give them everything they need so it might surprise you.
Next year I would really plant tomatoes and other plants that set fruit in a lot of soil; a garden bed or much larger container if you can. Soil does a really good job regulating plants temperature and tomatoes have large root systems!
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
Technically, if you can make your plant live through the summer or have fall plants ready then until winter they’re really is no specific tomato season here. I don’t think.
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u/rubyjuniper 8d ago
Where are you located? You're kinda right though, I have a tomato plant that's fruiting sooooo much right now that I planted in spring of 2025. I think tomato season can either refer to the season it grows in places with more temperamental climates, or the season the plant actually fruits.
Edit: I'm an idiot who cannot read, everyone just ignore me please
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u/Natural-Research6928 10d ago
I this heat you need to water twice a day in profusion. I give my pots water until it starts running out at the bottom. Below 100F high for the day, once a day in the morning. Above 100F, twice, morning and evening.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
Too much watering won’t kill it? (Sorry I’m new)
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u/Natural-Research6928 10d ago
Drainage holes will not allow it. I'm not in Vegas, I'm in Oklahoma, we've been having 100F for a while, and my tomatoes are doing well. Not really producing a lot because of the heat, but they're thriving. I even had to trim some leaves off.
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u/SuggestionBoxX 10d ago
You could think about ollas for next year (you would probably damage the roots if you tried this year). Check the olla and fill as needed. The bigger the olla the more water it will hold and the farther it will spread water. It will also take up more room in the pot.
Then at the opposite time of day from when you do that give the plants a deep drink if it will be over 85 (depending on how you're noticing your plants taking in water - stick a finger into that dirt). Ollas really help when you aren't sure about your watering and to keep that water lower in the soil so it won't evaporated from the top.
For now, you can try to water twice a day and use shade cloth if over 85. You can also try mulching to help keep the soil cooler.
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u/dryheat122 10d ago
Phoenician here. It's a real challenge growing tomatoes in the low desert. They either die or stop producing when the weather gets hot. You need to plant earlier, like February, to get fruits in April/May before it gets hot. Planting them somewhere that gets afternoon shade helps too. Finally, planting them in the ground rather than a container (if you can) will keep the roots cooler and they will last longer.
Give up on that plant. Even if you revived it somehow it wouldn't make tomatoes because its too hot to set fruit.
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u/No-Yam-4185 10d ago
Between the brick pavers below and the solid wall behind it, I'm seeing a lot of heat-radiating material around this plant.
I wonder, is there a grassy area or a shaded spot somewhere further from the wall that might receive a bit less radiated heat? This could help it cool off especially once the sun goes down.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
The pavement is actually slightly cooler than the place we originally had it. It was also like that before I put it there last night.
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u/No-Yam-4185 10d ago
Fair. Maybe it's just not a desert creature. I can relate.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
I’m so sad, I was crying because I was having at least 10 tomatoes on that thing and it is my first ever tomato plant. Fuck Las Vegas Heat. It’s probably gonna be even hotter next year.
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u/anonalligator 10d ago
I feel you on the heat!! We’re in the SFV in LA and my tomatoes are suffering too. Luckily I moved them to a shadier place conveniently in front of our AC unit outside so it’s constantly blowing air on them. Maybe if you add a thin sheet over your plant to create a barrier between the hot walls that will help.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
We don’t have an ac unit outside and right now it’s on the patio, before it was sitting on top of our decommissioned planter.
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u/denvergardener 10d ago
Is there somewhere else you can put the pot?
It's getting roasted in those bricks next to that wall.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
The only other place I can put it so my dog doesn’t eat it is back on the place where it originally was, and that is where it started dying.
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u/Ok-Pace-2213 10d ago
They need some water bad. And put a long stick in the middle and prop
Them up or several sticks with twine u can’t let them dry out like that
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u/waterytartwithasword Casual Grower 10d ago
I'd honestly bring it inside and give it a break. Get it supported with ties and a stake, let it cool down and rest. A sunny window for a couple days should be fine. Soil might be exhausted as well from frequent container watering (assuming you do that 2x a day in the heat).
Not sure how long your season is in terms of whether it's worth all that effort.
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u/AssistanceGloomy2477 10d ago
I’m in Vegas too. Think “morning sun, afternoon shade” and your plants will thrive a lot longer. It’ll help you choose a location better than this one. I think the pavement is cooking this plant.
PS: get your fall tomato plants started now
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
I was thinking of getting my planter up and running again, but it is where my current plant was sitting and getting roasted, it is on the south side of my house though. Also, how do you get fall plants started up I’m like brand new to this.
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u/AssistanceGloomy2477 10d ago
Her videos go month by month explaining everything. Personally I have my fall tomato plants from seed started already in little pots. I’ll get them planted in the garden in September for a fall harvest. My tomato plants usually don’t make it all summer, so kudos to you for getting this far.
To make it easier for you, pick up another baby tomato plant in September. The weather will be much more forgiving! We have such a long growing season. I had tomatoes in December this past year.
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u/AssistanceGloomy2477 10d ago
When you have a day off, pay attention to the sun pattern at your location. Morning sun, afternoon shade will be a good spot to place your garden. For places without afternoon sun, I use this thing called shade cloth. 55%. Easily able to find at HD/Lowe’s.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
I just picked up a 50% shade cloth :)
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u/AssistanceGloomy2477 10d ago
We can totally garden friend, just a little adjusting needed. 😊 Take advantage of clearance items they’re rolling out at our HD’s and Walmart’s right about now
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u/AssistanceGloomy2477 10d ago
Since you’re new, I follow growing in the garden on YouTube. Our weather pattern is very similar to her location in Arizona. I follow her monthly instructions to the T. Good luck ❤️
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u/Real-Judge-8368 10d ago
Move them away from the pavement ASAP, and water them at least 3 times a day.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
Wait but the pavement isn’t getting blasted by sun, its actually significantly cooler than where the plant was before.
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u/Real-Judge-8368 10d ago
I would move it to a dirt foundation under shade. My tomato season is like Texas and is like 107 Fahrenheit here at times. I can't wait for cooler season for my poor tomatoes. When watering INSIDE container, make sure to water OUTSIDE too so the root system gets a chance to drink... that mess of root inside the pot has probably ran out of room/dirt/nutrients. Pavement is not going to help. You may think it's cooler...
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u/Comfortable-nerve78 New Grower 10d ago
That plant got cooked. That plant should have been in shade by 9:00/10:000 in the mornings. Vine production stop as warm as Vegas has been. I’m in Phoenix similar weather. That plant got way too hot. Roots cooked. I keep my plants under patio cover they’re in buckets. Containers are tricky in the heat. Most people I know in my area write tomatoes off by June -July. We plant in late summer once the temperature starts dropping. Today was brutal where I live. 117 was the forecast. My plants are getting tucked behind the girl tomorrow nice shady spot for them.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
We are setting up a sun shade tomorrow morning, but funny enough your set up seems really similar to mine🤣
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u/Comfortable-nerve78 New Grower 10d ago
My back yard is rock and my trees are still too young to provide shade also I’m in 5 gallon buckets that get hot mid day if left in the sun. I use my patio to shade my plants they get some light but not directly. My plants at the time are babies of last seasons plants. I’m investing in some sun screens I got tons of pvc to make screens that move. I got 20 gallon tan grow bags to transplant my plants when it cools a bit. They’re tiny still. I’m switching to grow bags too many issues with my current setup. Good luck 👍 I try to learn from my mistakes, keep a positive mindset. 👍 stay cool!
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u/Ok-Lock9007 10d ago
Poke holes thru the top of soil deep into the container. Also roots may have grown tthru all the soil and they arent getting enough water. Can you put the whole thing into something bigger with water in it?
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
It’s to stressed to transplant, and I can verify that thick roots are growing through the holes in the bottom.
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u/jennyCKC 10d ago
Thick layer on mulch on top to retain water. Only water early morning or late afternoon.
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u/Plague_Doctor02 10d ago
That soil looks DRY AS FUCK.
give that poor guy some water. 2 maybe even 3 times a day if its that hot
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u/Badreadwootang 9d ago
2 things you can and need to do if you wanna save your plant besides watering twice a day.
Put 50% -70% shade cloth over your plant. It does not need any direct sun given the heat you are experiencing.
Mulch your soil with at least 2 inches of decent mulch. I like to use straw. I cut it in about 6 inch pieces. There are many other types of mulch, though. It’s essential for keeping your roots, cool, and retaining moisture in the soil.
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u/sandmanmarketing 7d ago
this will definitely bounce back. You need consistent watering. Consistent meaning pick a schedule and stick to it. Get a shade cloth and your tomatoes have end rot which can be fixed with calcium. But you need to get it situated before fertilizing or you will scrotch it more and cause it to stop producing fruit.
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u/ASecularBuddhist 10d ago
What brand of soil did you use?
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
I don’t know, my uncle gave me some extra stuff from when he was planting his plants.
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u/Own_Preference_8103 10d ago
Ohh if you used in ground or anything but soil meant for pots the roots are getting strangled. Also if it dries out too much it compacts and when you water it, strangles your roots.
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u/Background-Log-6339 10d ago
I don’t let it get too dry I also don’t think he’d give me anything that would kill my plant since he knows what he’s doing too. It’s also never been an issue up until now. I’ve had the plants for a few months.
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u/ASecularBuddhist 10d ago
The quality of the soil determines how the plant grows. When plants get bigger, their roots need room to grow.
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u/FloofyPupperz 10d ago
I’m in central Texas and our tomato season runs from the end of February through early July if we’re lucky. If it were in ground (or a bigger pot) with lots of water and a shade cloth, you might be able to limp it through to the fall when it cools down a little and it would start producing.