This was the first year I planted tomatoes and cucumbers here in southern California. There was an unused space in my back yard. I ordered some good soil and planted small tomatoes and cucumbers in early May. I regularly watered them for more than a month but they started to turn yellow in early July. The tomatoes became bad and as you can see in the pictures, not usable. Cucumber plants are also slowly disappeared and what I have left with now are just some yellow tomato plants.
What did I do wrong?

On 1 st. Pic. Middle far right. Not tomato. I see swiggly white lines on leaves. Those are leaf miners.

I'm going to bet the plants are on the west facing side of house.

Sunburn ! With the heat we've had, it's been hard on older plants also.

Check back of leaves with magnifying glass for bugs.
Webs, would be spider mites, very hard to see.

Could also be blight, or virius.

Thanks Philip.
So basically the heat and bugs destroyed my plants. What should I have done for the heat and the bugs?

We plant here in New York in Early May. In Southern Cal I figure you should have planted much earlier in the season. The heat and hot weather probably is on and killed your plants.

Attached are the new tomatos from my garden. As you can see, they are bad formed in the bottom. The inside is good though.

alexmal said:Attached are the new tomatos from my garden. As you can see, they are bad formed in the bottom. The inside is good though.

Looks like a very mild form of Sunscald on them. Which is only a sunburn. They are still good to eat.

Thanks all for the feedback.

Any recommendation for next year to avoid the same issue? In general, when should I plant vegetables, how often should I water them, should I use any chemical or something to prevent them from bugs?

You need too look up your spring planting date for your area.

Alex hi. Its Philip back ! 😁
Go to this sites learning library and go to planting guides. You'll be surprised what you can plant right now ! And winter crops to plant now and in the next few months.
If vege you want to plant isnt listed. Type in name and search.
I just did that on leeks. Found out that for me, right now is time to start leek seeds inside house, to plant outdoors in about 10 to 12 weeks, when they are get pencil size.
They'll mature in nov, dec. And they will keep in ground till early spring !

Right now you could give your plants some afternoon shade.

Now ! For next year. Select area that gets shade from afternoon sun. Nows good time to figure that out. 😁
Take some soil samples from selected area to get tested at local co-op extension. No charge. Or nursery.
Then you can get your soil ready for next sping planting.

Dont water every day. Water deep enough so plants can go at least a day between watering. Roots need air. Cultivating helps, between watering.
Now ! When your sprouting seeds, you need to sprinkle seeds every day, or twice, depending on temps, till there established.

Bugs ! 👺👺👺 them dumb bugs.
Get you some neem oil. Now !

So the first sign, or spotting of the dreaded bugs ! You can spray them.

You do have a sprayer ! Right ? If not, get one.
Home Depot has some pump sprayers as small as a quart and a half, there cute !😁! To as big as you may need.

Garden-Hoe there Buddy 😁😁😁
😎😎😎