[Market-farming] Growing Tomatoes
Wiediger, Alison
alison.wiediger at hart.kyschools.us
Mon Jan 14 08:51:32 EST 2008
Last year we bought it here: http://www.dirtworks.net/
Shipping was pretty expensive. We bought two rolls, sharing with a
friend and got a small discount. This year, the vegetable growing
supply company where we buy our media, etc., is getting it for us. The
plastic is still pricey, but at least we won't pay shipping! You don't
want to buy more than you will use in a season, though, as it might
deteriorate too much to use the second season. And, be very particular
to cover it back up totally after use. We keep ours in a cardboard
carton with a black plastic garbage bag over the top to keep UV out.
Alison
________________________________
From: market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Petersons
family
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:58 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Growing Tomatoes
Alison - where do you get the biodegradable black plastic for your
tomato production?
Molly Petersons
Molly's Island Garden
Whidbey Island, WA
On Jan 10, 2008, at 9:06 AM, Wiediger, Alison wrote:
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
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