Q.
Why use a weather app? I have planted tomatoes at the same time every year and
they have done well.
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| Weather app for Henderson, Nevada |
A.
You were lucky. Sometimes warm season plants like tomatoes, peppers and
eggplant are planted as early as mid-February. Other times the weather stays
cold until mid-March. Using a weather app on your phone helps predict the
weather two or three weeks ahead.
Warm season crops like tomatoes
prefer growing in warmer air and soil temperatures than winter or cool season
crops. Having two raised beds, one in full sun and one in seasonal shade, can
add about one month to your growing season. But there are other tricks you can
use as well. Look at your phone’s weather app. Covering the prepared soil with
clear plastic a week before the weather starts to warm up helps get an early
jump on warm crops like tomatoes.