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Growing Tomatoes

Putting the tomato patch to bed for the fall

9 years ago

I grow my tomatoes in raised boxes which contain a mix of peat moss, mushroom compost, and bagged topsoil. I grow primarily tomatoes, with few other vegetables, so I can't really 'rotate' crops.

I don't have much access to manure, etc; most of the stuff I'll be using will be bought at HD or Lowes.

I'm planning to pull all the vines this weekend (they're all dead) and top off the boxes. Thought I'd use a mix of mushroom compost and chicken manure and then cover with plastic to 'solarize' the beds until they're ready to be planted in the spring.

Any guidance? What would you do now to make it simple come planting time?

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Comments (3)

centexan254 zone 8 Temple, Tx
9 years ago
Once my tomatoes die off, I plant cabbage, and other freeze tolerant veggies. I harvest them before spring tilling. Wait till time to replant sping veggies.
lubadub
9 years ago
There are so many ways to do it. What you are planning is more than adequate. I don't think you need to solarize your garden but if you put plastic on it will be dry and ready to work any time you like in the Spring.
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seysonn
9 years ago
I do cover mine with plastic too but not for the purpose of solarising. I do it to keep away almost 30 inches of rain during fall/winter/spring months plus to raise the temperatures of soil prior to planting.

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