[Market-farming] Growing Tomatoes

Wiediger, Alison alison.wiediger at hart.kyschools.us
Thu Jan 10 12:06:20 EST 2008


Allan,

 

There are probably as many good tips are there are growers, but we have
found a few things key:

 

Good fertility - so they grow and produce before our southeastern
diseases stop production

 

Mulching to control weeds that compete - we use biodegradable black
plastic and hay/straw

 

Consistent moisture - drip irrigation has been critical to our operation
- drought is becoming all too common

 

Succession planting - a planting only has nice tomatoes for 4-6 weeks
before disease starts shutting it down. We plant to have 3 outside
plantings of tomatoes for the coming season.

 

Variety selection - we select for varieties that will give us flavorful,
beautiful tomatoes, and lots of them.  We have only a few we use and
trial a few more each year in case we've missed one.  Goliath, Old
Fashioned Goliath and Park's Whopper for red slicers, Carolina Gold for
yellow slicer, San Marzano hybrid for paste and a handful of heirlooms
that never produce enough for us to justify the space they take, but
look nice on our table, plus 8-10 cherry/grape types.  Each farm and
each market will have varieties that suit them best - these are
ours..... this year!

 

Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Allan
Balliett
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:40 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: [Market-farming] Growing Tomatoes

 

This is a heck of a thing to admit to, but I think I need some tips 

on growing tomatoes.

 

I'm looking for good advice on getting a good crop of tomatoes this
season.

 

Thanks

 

-Allan

_______________________________________________

 

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