Grow goodness
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Avoid disease and insect damage with these tips
omatoes are a summertime treat and a musthave in the vegetable garden. By early May, most people have already planted tomato plants or are just now getting started. A lot of work and care is required to get to the point where one can pick a nice lush ripe backyard tomato. Managing insects and diseases is a significant chore, but mulching, watering and staking may be just as critical, if not more important. Placing mulch around new tomato plants helps control weeds and conserves moisture. It also reduces diseases by reducing the amount of water splashing onto the bottom leaves of the plants. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch in a circle around the plants once the soil has warmed up and the plants grow well. Pine straw, grass 18 Lake Martin Living
clippings, newspaper and wheat straw are good choices and decompose as the season progresses. Mulch can be tilled in later in the fall as additional organic matter. Mulch helps to ensure uniform soil moisture and cuts down on the need for frequent watering. Speaking of water, tomatoes like consistent moisture, rather than fluctuations of too wet or too dry. With frequent rain showers always in the forecast, this can be difficult to control. Hand water or run irrigation long enough to wet the soil 6 inches deep. Adequate moisture will help maintain uniform production and will reduce blossom-end rot. Avoid overhead watering A Delicious Treat and contact with leaves as Green tomatoes ripen much as possible to limit if stored with apples.
