Putting the tomato patch to bed for the fall

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Posted by arley 7b/8a SC (My Page) on

Thu, Sep 18, 14 at 9:13

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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RE: Putting the tomato patch to bed for the fall

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Posted by centexan254 8 (My Page) on
Thu, Sep 18, 14 at 10:14

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.

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Posted by lubadub 5B PA (My Page) on
Fri, Sep 19, 14 at 18:37

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.

RE: Putting the tomato patch to bed for the fall

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Posted by seysonn 7b WA/HZ 1 (My Page) on
Sat, Sep 20, 14 at 0:03

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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