Well, I know how you feel. After all the ups and downs this year with my garden, and then finally in late August the tomato plants were looking so great — and then fungus hit ‘em towad the end of Sept., and most died in a week or less. Many plants left toms on the vine just days short of being able to complete ripening anyway. The Romas in particular were doing so spectacularly well, and then died almost before I realized what was happening. Much the same for some of the Mortgage Lifters, although small areas of most plants are still alive, but the slow developing fruits just STOPPED.
I have also noted the Lemon Boys generally seem pretty “tough” when it comes to heat and drought, but that was when I still had them in small pots - pre-garden. Ditto for the Mortgage Lifters, except they refused to flower in less than good conditions.
At least I managed to get 3 big Opo fruits, and, to my vast surprise, my Ichiban “eggplants in the shade” did very well. The Golden Jubilee tomato plants are only now “giving up”, with many fruits falling off, but, most did get to the point of ripening, and taste-wise, they are my favorite.
Next year I am going to try spray painting the exterior of at least a half dozen pots white or reflective “silver”, and use the lightest color mulch possible, and see if that helps plants in pots. Shading pots themselves really seemed to help this year, but, it may have exacerbated the fungus issue?
“”I have also noted the Lemon Boys generally seem pretty “tough” when it comes to heat and drought, but that was when I still had them in small pots - pre-garden.””
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I love Lemon Boy tomatoes, and Golden Jubilees, but my all-time favorite is the Orange Oxeheart. I grew one in Houston as big as a grapefruit and that was THE best tasting tomato I’ve ever had in my life. It had a sweet, almost fruit-like quality that I have never been able to taste again. It’s like the ‘sword in the stone’ quest now for me to achieve growing that same tomato again.
Ah, next year....I have plans (always) for next year, too. I don’t know about shading (I use green shadecloth) causing fungus, but I do know if the plants are water-starved and then there’s a deluge, if you don’t check the pots for proper drainage... the plants can and probably will die. I found that out ‘the hard way’ two years ago.