Latest news with #tomatoes
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Climate
- Telegraph
How to water your garden during a drought
Our gardens have been far from tranquil and relaxing during these intense periods of hot weather. Even in the shade, there can be little comfort found during the day, making gardens uncomfortable for us, let alone our plants. Watering can seem relentless, and with a heightened awareness of the scarcity of this resource – particularly due to the hosepipe bans that are in place in parts of the country – how do we water wisely to keep our plants healthy, while avoiding unnecessarily high water bills? Here's some advice to keep in mind. Greenhouses The greenhouse is one of the most difficult parts of your garden to manage during the high summer, requiring regular attention. The past few weekends have seen the greenhouses at West Dean reach over 40C, making even the cactus squint. In high summer, if plants are grown in containers, they should if possible be moved out of these hot houses into a shady part of the garden, to prevent them from drying out. If plants are to be kept in your greenhouse, then water first thing in the morning, and saturate the roots to hydrate them for the day ahead. A second watering during the early evening will help to reinvigorate your plant to avoid unnecessary stress, as temperatures remain high into the evening. Avoid watering your tomatoes in the evening, however, as damp foliage at night can cause perfect conditions for blight. Fruiting crops such as aubergines, tomatoes and peppers dislike fluctuating moisture levels as it can affect the development of the fruit; more consistent moisture level at the root will produce healthier plants and fruit. Cooling the temperatures down in your greenhouse can be achieved by painting a shading product onto the outside of the glass, which will reduce the amount of heat and light that enters the structure, resulting in the plants lasting longer between watering. Heat stress Plants can wilt from heat stress in the summer due to the warm temperatures, but can be moist at the root. Use your finger, and insert it into the root ball to detect any moisture levels. On hot days, if some of your plants are wilting, yet there is moisture at the root, they will soon recover when temperatures cool. Avoid adding more moisture to the root ball if it is saturated already, as extra watering will only cause more stress to the plant, and will potentially kill it. Grouping pots Grouping pots together will help to make watering more time efficient, with the extra humidity caused by dense foliage helping plants through tough times. During spells of particularly hot weather, move pots away from their sun-baked spots to areas in the shade, to help plants survive these difficult times. These periods of intense heat will damage most plants, but once the worst is over, it can be business as usual, and you can return them to their original spot. Acers in pots are especially vulnerable and should be protected. The damage comes from two fronts: scorched foliage by the sun and drying winds, coupled with high temperatures within the pot, causing root damage. Acers in pots are best placed in a sheltered, shady spot in the garden, and not allowed to dry out during the summer. Group plants with similar requirements together to help with your watering routine, and to avoid accidentally watering plants that don't require it; succulents and Mediterranean herbs will require less water than bedding plants, for instance, so group the pots of thirsty plants together. Top-dressing your containers with bark or gravel that is several centimetres deep, will also slow down evaporation; water well before applying the mulch. For large containers that cannot be moved into the shade, try draping an old net curtain or horticultural fleece over the plant, which will filter the light and reduce evaporation during times of excessive heat. How to water When it comes to a watering technique, most of the water is required at the root, not all over the leaves. A watering can is an efficient way to water your plants, as the amount of water that you apply can be easily controlled. Watering with a hosepipe – where it is allowed – can save time, but it is harder to gauge how much water you are applying. You'll be surprised how much water is given to a plant by just a few seconds from a hosepipe. To understand how much water you are giving your plant through a hosepipe, get a feel for how long you water the plant, and then hold that hosepipe over a bucket for the same amount of time. The amount of water that you are giving your plant will be visible within the bucket (you may be surprised by the high volume of water you are applying). Moreover, most of this water will drain out of the base of the pot and be wasted. Containers can be placed in a saucer, which will act as a reservoir to be utilised by the plants during hot spells. Automatic systems Irrigation techniques cover a vast spectrum: from an upside-down plastic drinks bottle with the bottom removed and filled with water as a reservoir, right the way through to soaker hoses on a timer, or a remotely monitored watering system controlled by an app. The most effective and efficient way to irrigate your plants is through a drip irrigation system, which pumps water through pipework to nozzles that are inserted into a root ball. This delivers water gradually, to meet the plant's needs with no wastage. Ultimately, there are pros and cons for automated systems, and they suit some people more than others. The level of sophistication that is delivered with these systems is also wide-ranging, as is the budget required to purchase them. I discovered that a solar-powered system that drew water from a recycled bottle from a water dispenser (the ones you find in an office), worked incredibly well and cost less than £50. Lawns In all honesty, it's very hard to maintain grass without copious amounts of water during prolonged periods of hot and dry weather. Tougher grasses will recover in the main, but finer lawns may suffer. Weeds tend to be more resilient than turf, with deeper roots, so they can make your lawn look untidy. Simply mow the tops off, avoiding damaging the grass by cutting with a higher-set blade. Scarify in the autumn to remove thatch and promote a more robust turf, or consider leaving some areas to grow long. Well-kept lawns are becoming increasingly hard to maintain and justify in such conditions; it's not what everyone likes to hear, but I'm afraid it's a harsh reality.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Here's how a major Mexican tomato exporter is affected by Trump's 17% tariff
The Trump administration's decision to impose a 17% duty on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico has created a dilemma for the country providing more tomatoes to U.S. consumers than any other. The import tax that began July 14 is just the latest protectionist move by an administration that has threatened dozens of countries with tariffs, including its critical trading partner Mexico. It comes as the Mexican government tries to also negotiate its way out of a 30% general tariff scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. While the impacts of the tomato tariff are still in their infancy, a major grower and exporter in central Mexico shows how a tariff targeting a single product can destabilize the sector. Surviving in times of uncertainty Green tomato plants stretch upward row after row in sprawling high-tech greenhouses covering nearly six acres in the central state of Queretaro, among the top 10 tomato producing states in Mexico. Climate controlled and pest free, Veggie Prime's greenhouses in Ajuchitlan send some 100 tons of fresh tomatoes every week to Mastronardi Produce. The Canadian company is the leading distributor of fresh tomatoes in the U.S. with clients that include Costco and Walmart. Moisés Atri, Veggie Prime's export director, says they've been exporting tomatoes to the U.S. for 13 years and their substantial investment and the cost to produce their tomatoes won't allow them to make any immediate changes. They're also contractually obligated to sell everything they produce to Mastronardi until 2026. 'None of us (producers) can afford it," Atri said. "We have to approach our client to adjust the prices because we're nowhere near making that kind of profit.' In the tariff's first week, Veggie Prime ate the entire charge. In the second, its share of the new cost lowered when its client agreed to increase the price of their tomatoes by 10%. The 56-year-old Atri hopes that Mastronardi will eventually pass all of the tariff's cost onto its retail clients. Mexican tomato exports brought in $3 billion last year Experts say the tariff could cause a 5% to 10% drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than $3 billion for Mexico. The Mexican Association of Tomato Producers says the industry generates some 500,000 jobs. Juan Carlos Anaya, director general of the consulting firm Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas, said a drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than 2 billion tons, could lead to the loss of some 200,000 jobs Experts: U.S. will have difficulty replacing fresh Mexican tomatoes When the Trump administration announced the tariff, the Commerce Department justified it as a measure to protect U.S. producers from artificially cheap Mexican imports. California and Florida growers that produce about 11 million tons would stand to benefit most, though most of that production is for processed tomatoes. Experts believe the U.S. would find it difficult to replace Mexico's fresh tomato imports. Atri and other producers are waiting for a scheduled review of the measure in two months, when the U.S. heads into fall and fresh tomato production there begins to decline. In reaction to the tariff, the Mexican government has floated the idea of looking for other, more stable, international markets. Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said Thursday that the government is looking at possibilities like Japan, but producers quickly cast doubt on that idea, noting the tomatoes would have to be sent by plane, raising the cost even more. Atri said the company is starting to experiment with peppers, to see if they would provide an option at scale. President Claudia Sheinbaum said recently her administration would survey tomato growers to figure out what support they need, especially small producers who are already feeling the effects of a drop of more than 10% in the price of tomatoes domestically over fears there will be a glut in Mexico.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Here's how a major Mexican tomato exporter is affected by Trump's 17% tariff
AJUCHITLAN, Mexico — The Trump administration's decision to impose a 17% duty on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico has created a dilemma for the country providing more tomatoes to U.S. consumers than any other. The import tax that began July 14 is just the latest protectionist move by an administration that has threatened dozens of countries with tariffs, including its critical trading partner Mexico. It comes as the Mexican government tries to also negotiate its way out of a 30% general tariff scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. While the impacts of the tomato tariff are still in their infancy, a major grower and exporter in central Mexico shows how a tariff targeting a single product can destabilize the sector. Green tomato plants stretch upward row after row in sprawling high-tech greenhouses covering nearly six acres in the central state of Queretaro, among the top 10 tomato producing states in Mexico. Climate controlled and pest free, Veggie Prime's greenhouses in Ajuchitlan send some 100 tons of fresh tomatoes every week to Mastronardi Produce. The Canadian company is the leading distributor of fresh tomatoes in the U.S. with clients that include Costco and Walmart. Moisés Atri, Veggie Prime's export director, says they've been exporting tomatoes to the U.S. for 13 years and their substantial investment and the cost to produce their tomatoes won't allow them to make any immediate changes. They're also contractually obligated to sell everything they produce to Mastronardi until 2026. 'None of us (producers) can afford it,' Atri said. 'We have to approach our client to adjust the prices because we're nowhere near making that kind of profit.' In the tariff's first week, Veggie Prime ate the entire charge. In the second, its share of the new cost lowered when its client agreed to increase the price of their tomatoes by 10%. The 56-year-old Atri hopes that Mastronardi will eventually pass all of the tariff's cost onto its retail clients. Experts say the tariff could cause a 5% to 10% drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than $3 billion for Mexico. The Mexican Association of Tomato Producers says the industry generates some 500,000 jobs. Juan Carlos Anaya, director general of the consulting firm Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas, said a drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than 2 billion tons, could lead to the loss of some 200,000 jobs When the Trump administration announced the tariff, the Commerce Department justified it as a measure to protect U.S. producers from artificially cheap Mexican imports. California and Florida growers that produce about 11 million tons would stand to benefit most, though most of that production is for processed tomatoes. Experts believe the U.S. would find it difficult to replace Mexico's fresh tomato imports. Atri and other producers are waiting for a scheduled review of the measure in two months, when the U.S. heads into fall and fresh tomato production there begins to decline. In reaction to the tariff, the Mexican government has floated the idea of looking for other, more stable, international markets. Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said Thursday that the government is looking at possibilities like Japan, but producers quickly cast doubt on that idea, noting the tomatoes would have to be sent by plane, raising the cost even more. Atri said the company is starting to experiment with peppers, to see if they would provide an option at scale. President Claudia Sheinbaum said recently her administration would survey tomato growers to figure out what support they need, especially small producers who are already feeling the effects of a drop of more than 10% in the price of tomatoes domestically over fears there will be a glut in Mexico.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Here's how a major Mexican tomato exporter is affected by Trump's 17% tariff
The Trump administration's decision to impose a 17 percent duty on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico has created a dilemma for the country providing more tomatoes to US consumers than any other. The import tax that began July 14 is just the latest protectionist move by an administration that has threatened dozens of countries with tariffs including its critical trading partner Mexico. It comes as the Mexican government tries to also negotiate its way out of a 30 percent general tariff scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. While the impacts of the tomato tariff are still in their infancy, a major grower and exporter in central Mexico shows how a tariff targeting a single product can destabilize the sector. Surviving in times of uncertainty – Green tomato plants stretch upward row after row in sprawling high-tech greenhouses covering nearly six acres in the central state of Queretaro, among the top 10 tomato producing states in Mexico. Climate controlled and pest free, Veggie Prime's greenhouses in Ajuchitlan send some 100 tons of fresh tomatoes every week to Mastronardi Produce. The Canadian company is the leading distributor of fresh tomatoes in the US with clients that include Costco and Walmart. Moisés Atri, Veggie Prime's export director, says they've been exporting tomatoes to the US for 13 years and their substantial investment and the cost to produce their tomatoes won't allow them to make any immediate changes. They're also contractually obligated to sell everything they produce to Mastronardi until 2026. 'None of us (producers) can afford it,' Atri said. 'We have to approach our client to adjust the prices because we're nowhere near making that kind of profit.' In the tariff's first week, Veggie Prime ate the entire charge. In the second, its share of the new cost lowered when its client agreed to increase the price of their tomatoes by 10 percent. The 56-year-old Atri hopes that Mastronardi will eventually pass all of the tariff's cost onto its retail clients. Mexican tomato exports brought in 3 billion last year. Experts say the tariff could cause a 5 percent to 10 percent drop in tomato exports which last year amounted to more than 3 billion for Mexico. The Mexican Association of Tomato Producers says the industry generates some 500000 jobs. Juan Carlos Anaya, director general of the consulting firm Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas, said a drop in tomato exports which last year amounted to more than 2 billion tons could lead to the loss of some 200000 jobs. Experts: US will have difficulty replacing fresh Mexican tomatoes – When the Trump administration announced the tariff, the Commerce Department justified it as a measure to protect US producers from artificially cheap Mexican imports. California and Florida growers that produce about 11 million tons would stand to benefit most though most of that production is for processed tomatoes. Experts believe the US would find it difficult to replace Mexico's fresh tomato imports. Atri and other producers are waiting for a scheduled review of the measure in two months when the US heads into fall and fresh tomato production there begins to decline. In reaction to the tariff, the Mexican government has floated the idea of looking for other more stable international markets. Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said Thursday that the government is looking at possibilities like Japan, but producers quickly cast doubt on that idea, noting the tomatoes would have to be sent by plane, raising the cost even more. Atri said the company is starting to experiment with peppers to see if they would provide an option at scale. President Claudia Sheinbaum said recently her administration would survey tomato growers to figure out what support they need especially small producers who are already feeling the effects of a drop of more than 10 percent in the price of tomatoes domestically over fears there will be a glut in Mexico.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's how a major Mexican tomato exporter is affected by Trump's 17% tariff
AJUCHITLAN, Mexico (AP) — The Trump administration's decision to impose a 17% duty on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico has created a dilemma for the country providing more tomatoes to U.S. consumers than any other. The import tax that began July 14 is just the latest protectionist move by an administration that has threatened dozens of countries with tariffs, including its critical trading partner Mexico. It comes as the Mexican government tries to also negotiate its way out of a 30% general tariff scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. While the impacts of the tomato tariff are still in their infancy, a major grower and exporter in central Mexico shows how a tariff targeting a single product can destabilize the sector. Surviving in times of uncertainty Green tomato plants stretch upward row after row in sprawling high-tech greenhouses covering nearly six acres in the central state of Queretaro, among the top 10 tomato producing states in Mexico. Climate controlled and pest free, Veggie Prime's greenhouses in Ajuchitlan send some 100 tons of fresh tomatoes every week to Mastronardi Produce. The Canadian company is the leading distributor of fresh tomatoes in the U.S. with clients that include Costco and Walmart. Moisés Atri, Veggie Prime's export director, says they've been exporting tomatoes to the U.S. for 13 years and their substantial investment and the cost to produce their tomatoes won't allow them to make any immediate changes. They're also contractually obligated to sell everything they produce to Mastronardi until 2026. 'None of us (producers) can afford it," Atri said. "We have to approach our client to adjust the prices because we're nowhere near making that kind of profit.' In the tariff's first week, Veggie Prime ate the entire charge. In the second, its share of the new cost lowered when its client agreed to increase the price of their tomatoes by 10%. The 56-year-old Atri hopes that Mastronardi will eventually pass all of the tariff's cost onto its retail clients. Mexican tomato exports brought in $3 billion last year Experts say the tariff could cause a 5% to 10% drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than $3 billion for Mexico. The Mexican Association of Tomato Producers says the industry generates some 500,000 jobs. Juan Carlos Anaya, director general of the consulting firm Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas, said a drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than 2 billion tons, could lead to the loss of some 200,000 jobs Experts: U.S. will have difficulty replacing fresh Mexican tomatoes When the Trump administration announced the tariff, the Commerce Department justified it as a measure to protect U.S. producers from artificially cheap Mexican imports. California and Florida growers that produce about 11 million tons would stand to benefit most, though most of that production is for processed tomatoes. Experts believe the U.S. would find it difficult to replace Mexico's fresh tomato imports. Atri and other producers are waiting for a scheduled review of the measure in two months, when the U.S. heads into fall and fresh tomato production there begins to decline. In reaction to the tariff, the Mexican government has floated the idea of looking for other, more stable, international markets. Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said Thursday that the government is looking at possibilities like Japan, but producers quickly cast doubt on that idea, noting the tomatoes would have to be sent by plane, raising the cost even more. Atri said the company is starting to experiment with peppers, to see if they would provide an option at scale. President Claudia Sheinbaum said recently her administration would survey tomato growers to figure out what support they need, especially small producers who are already feeling the effects of a drop of more than 10% in the price of tomatoes domestically over fears there will be a glut in Mexico. Fabiola Sánchez, The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
