3. Cherry Tomatoes
If you are growing vegetables on a sunny balcony, cherry tomatoes are a must-have for summer gardening. Unlike large beefsteak tomatoes, which take weeks to ripen and are prone to splitting when they absorb water too quickly, cherry tomatoes are incredibly resilient and respond to rainwater with explosive growth.
The sudden availability of nitrogen from a thunderstorm prompts tomato plants to push out bright yellow blossoms and new green foliage.
Water acts as the transportation system within the plant, carrying calcium and potassium from the soil up into the developing fruits. After a deep, saturating rain, you will often find that small, hard, green tomatoes have visibly swelled overnight.
To support this rapid growth, make sure your tomato containers are properly staked or caged before the storms arrive. Tomatoes become incredibly heavy when wet, and the combination of wind and sudden fruit expansion can easily snap an unsupported stem.
