It never used to be a problem for us until the last couple of years. Last year we had 100+ temps in June here - broke all records. Our weather is nothing like what we always considered normal. We used to grow vegetables here with no irrigation, with dependable afternoon thunder showers several times a week - and temps rarely hit 100 - but that pattern has been gone for years. Now it's all drought with occasional damaging gully-washers - and hurricanes that retain their strength all the way up here - 75 miles from the Gulf.
These determinates we plant now are especially susceptible to sunscald - most the fruit is unproteced by foliage. We are putting in 400 Better Boys this year as a backup if we have another hot, dry June. At least we'll have a few nice, vine-ripened toms for the folks that sponsor our project and pay the bills. We're doubling the okra and peas - they can handle this weather!
Unless the weather returns to normal, we're either going to have to return to indeterminates (with all their support problems) or figure out a way to wash the Purshade residue off them. I can see Purshade being very useful for home growers because hand washing is no big deal - and the residue is completely harmless anyway. I think it will be available retail in small quantities soon -they're awaiting all the govt testing, etc.
Jack
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