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So, people seemed interested in my tomato growing process. I figured I'd lay it out. I'm actually an amateur, this is only my fourth year growing, so I'm either doing something right or having good luck, because I'm sure as hell not SUPER careful about how I grow these.
It's worth noting, I live in SC, USA, Zone 8a.
I grow my tomatoes from seeds, which I start in early February in a small outdoor greenhouse. These are CHEAP, you can buy them online and set them up in an hour, they come in various sizes, and they're kind of essential if you're going to grow from seed unless you live in a really warm climate. I provide no other heat save the sun, so my seedlings took awhile in some cases to get going. I had most sprouting within a month and nice big plants ready to go in the ground by May.
I constructed my trellis with just basic fence posts, and since I grow entirely indeterminate (meaning they just keep growing, they don't grow to a 'determined' height like a lot of bushing tomatoes do) I went with 10 foot posts. They are sunk two feet, and then I layered an extra foot of built-up beds full of chicken poop compost, compost from the house scraps, and about a dozen fish heads and spines from whole tilapia we butchered and ate over the winter. I let those beds season for half the year before I planted anything in them.
I am not using any kind of chemical grow additive or chemical compost. I'm not opposed to them, they're just expensive and I had plenty of normal compost to use. I also don't generally spray for bugs, save once at the beginning of the year when we had a TERRIBLE potato bug issue, I think that's what they were? They were eating EVERYTHING. Anyway, since then, the lemongrass has done the trick.
Anyway, the tomato plants grew fast and I really didn't start pruning until recently, I just kind of let them do their thing. Now that they've been fruiting for the last month, I've begun pruning, but only to avoid disease. I don't really have the time to do very careful pruning.
I pull fruit when they're juuuuuuust about ripe. If I wait until they completely ripen the bugs get to them. They continue to ripen on the window sill for a few days, and then they're good to go.
Hope that was helpful!
It's worth noting, I live in SC, USA, Zone 8a.
I grow my tomatoes from seeds, which I start in early February in a small outdoor greenhouse. These are CHEAP, you can buy them online and set them up in an hour, they come in various sizes, and they're kind of essential if you're going to grow from seed unless you live in a really warm climate. I provide no other heat save the sun, so my seedlings took awhile in some cases to get going. I had most sprouting within a month and nice big plants ready to go in the ground by May.
I constructed my trellis with just basic fence posts, and since I grow entirely indeterminate (meaning they just keep growing, they don't grow to a 'determined' height like a lot of bushing tomatoes do) I went with 10 foot posts. They are sunk two feet, and then I layered an extra foot of built-up beds full of chicken poop compost, compost from the house scraps, and about a dozen fish heads and spines from whole tilapia we butchered and ate over the winter. I let those beds season for half the year before I planted anything in them.
I am not using any kind of chemical grow additive or chemical compost. I'm not opposed to them, they're just expensive and I had plenty of normal compost to use. I also don't generally spray for bugs, save once at the beginning of the year when we had a TERRIBLE potato bug issue, I think that's what they were? They were eating EVERYTHING. Anyway, since then, the lemongrass has done the trick.
Anyway, the tomato plants grew fast and I really didn't start pruning until recently, I just kind of let them do their thing. Now that they've been fruiting for the last month, I've begun pruning, but only to avoid disease. I don't really have the time to do very careful pruning.
I pull fruit when they're juuuuuuust about ripe. If I wait until they completely ripen the bugs get to them. They continue to ripen on the window sill for a few days, and then they're good to go.
Hope that was helpful!
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
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File Size 804.6 kB
Lemongrass is where citronella oil comes from. That's what is often used in bug-repelling candles and lotions. It's perfectly edible and completely non-toxic in reasonable amounts. It certainly won't hurt you, especially compared to spraying cancer chemicals on your food, like Roundup.
Actually, citronella is a plant in the geranium family, though citronella products often do have lemongrass oil in them too! Citronella plants smell absolutely wonderful, just brushing your fingers over the leaves will impart a large amount of their scent.
Try to plant "Tagetes patula", "Tropaeolum majus", garlic, dill, mint, basil, lavender around the tomatos just like a wall against the bugs and else. The lemongrass good too. And dont forget to bind the tomatos to the fence, it will help to keep the weight, and the plant doesnt waste resource on firming its stem.
The yellowish leaf color can mean mineral deficiency: N, Mg, P, K, Ca, but the chicken poop should do the trick, at least enrich the soil with N. Careful with this, it can burn the plant if too much, too strong or place directly to the steam.
Tomato likes peat riched soil.
The yellowish leaf color can mean mineral deficiency: N, Mg, P, K, Ca, but the chicken poop should do the trick, at least enrich the soil with N. Careful with this, it can burn the plant if too much, too strong or place directly to the steam.
Tomato likes peat riched soil.
Capsaicin based spay can be homemade but, never grow tobacco near tomatoes. You can grow hot peppers and that can protect a garden. Hot peppers keep pests away but, can keep bees and pollinating insects away as well.
If you can grow tobacco it makes a good repellent for a garden. Tobacco is a heavy feeder. I know someone who tried and it was hard to start the plant. Just read the law on how much you can grow legally without involving the department of agriculture.
If you can grow tobacco it makes a good repellent for a garden. Tobacco is a heavy feeder. I know someone who tried and it was hard to start the plant. Just read the law on how much you can grow legally without involving the department of agriculture.
Oh lets see here, warm humid gulf climate and Atlantic air, lots of nitrogen in the form of ammonia in all the chicken poop and compost, keeping the tomato plants regular waterings, Lemongrass, similar to the mint family for pest control, seems all good and valid reasons to get a bumpercrop. The fact tomatoes are a vine like plant, they grow out everywhere, it is no wonder you have like a privacy hedge now.
Marigolds planted inbetween and around the tomatoes help prevent pests as well. I plant them around my tomatoes and they really help keep pests away. With indeterminate you might need to supplement the soil later in the season, i think you have a longer growing seasons than I do (zone 7b) they will deplete the soil of nutrients and more than likely need calcium etc to prevent blossom end rot. This is such a great set up though! I love it! Im fairly amatuer as well but LOVE my tomatoes. Been a plentiful season this year, even been able to can! Great luck and success to you, gardening is so fun!
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