The Legend of Jake Toews

Legend has it that Jake Toews was a tomato gardener extraordinaire. According to reports, he knew the secret to growing large tomatoes during the hot, humid summer months in Florida.

You are probably thinking, "what's so hard about growing tomatoes during the summer?" Well, in Florida the high humidity in the summer presents a problem. According to the University of Florida's agricultural department, the optimum temperature and humidity is important in tomato flower pollination. Favorable temperature ranges are between 70–85˚F. The ideal relative humidity for the pollination of tomatoes is around 70 percent. If morning temperatures rise above 90˚F before 10 a.m., the flowers will abort, and the blossoms will drop. In a word, no pollination equals no tomatoes. The problem is that the high humidity causes the pollen to stick together in clumps which will not allow the flower to pollinate.

There are some varieties of cherry tomatoes that will produce fruit during the humid summer months. The University of Florida has also produced some varieties of large tomatoes that will also produce fruit despite the Florida humidity.

One method of combating this problem is hand pollination. Or more specifically, toothbrush pollination. Yes, you read that correctly. As strange as it may seem, according to a study, an electric toothbrush can help in pollination and be an effective booster of crop yields. Tomatoes and peppers are dependent on "buzz pollination." Pollen grains are released from the anthers of flowers as the rapid ultrasonic vibrations are discharged by bees. A group of scientists in Texas conducted an experiment to determine the effectiveness of an electric toothbrush. They discovered that the use of an electric toothbrush in pollination is effective. A professional gardener who tried this technique found a 20 percent increase in yield for his tomato crop.

I do not know the secret of the legendary Jake Toews. But I am bound and determined to figure out how to grow something larger than a cherry tomato during the humid summer months here in Florida.

Because of Calvary,

Bob

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One day C. H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE. Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message. "Weather vanes are changeable," he said, "but God's love is constant."

"I don't agree with you about those words, Charles," replied his friend. "You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love."