There are many techniques by which to grow tomatoes. I will discuss one technique that I have been using that I learned from my grandfather. It cost very little, returns amendments to the soil, and can prevent many weeds and grasses, too.

I start out by breaking with a plow, the garden down to about eighteen inches. I allow this to set for a few days then disc it over. I then use a rear-tine tiller to turn the dirt a little finer.

I have a row maker that is over 100 years old. I like the fun of using it as it is simple to use. After partitioning my garden to the correct number of rows and widths between them. I add one tobacco stake where each tomato plant will be placed. I drive it down enough to be stable. I then add a small amount of 10-10-10 fertilizer around the stake.

I try to use tomato plants that are of varieties that can take hotter days. Each tomato transplant will be near the steak and mounded in small hill. Depending on the height of the transplant, I will loose tie the plant to the steak to keep it running up the stake for support.

I water slowly in each location allowing the soil around the plant to take the water in deeply. I then add straw, purchased from local farmers, around each plant and will keep adding straw through the season. I also add straw to the walking path around the plants so as to keep down the grass and weeds. I try to keep it about four inches deep.

I will not water the plants unless they have gone four days without rain and there is no rain in the next day or two forecast. I will make sure that I water slowly but heavily so that the water will be deep in the soil to force the plant to reach its roots deeper into the soil. Roots that do not reach deeply will result in plants that produce poorly.

Tomatoes that get many days over 85 degrees can be subject to flower drop. The flowers on the plants are where the tomatoes will form. If you can add any type of shading, such as cut lower branches from trees, do so during the hot times. Also keep a thick layer of straw to keep the soil warm. This straw will also protect the soil from drying out quickly after a good rain. It will also help to amend the soil as it decomposes and cuts down on weeds and grasses.

As the tomato plant grows, loosely tie it to the stake to help add support and to make the tomatoes easier to reach. It will also help when checking for worms and parasites.

I try to stay away from chemicals. I like to add lady bugs to attack the aphids and encourage worm activity by adding bone meal and blood meal around the tomatoes every two weeks.

While no one method seems to out perform the others by leaps and bounds, I have found that this method works well, cuts down on the amount of work, and produces a nice harvest.

Learn more about this author, David Madden.
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