![]() ![]() Or, worse yet, wet clay that dries completely can form dense lumps at the bottom of your amended planting area. If it gets too soggy and then dries out, your dirt could crack, which may expose the tomatoes’ roots and make it hard for the plants to draw nutrition from the soil or stay hydrated. This chore starts with a couple of inches for the new transplants, usually a couple of cups of water apiece.Īnd then you’ll need to make sure these garden areas stay moist but not waterlogged for the rest of the growing season. The layer acts like an absorbent towel, retaining moisture without allowing it to pool. You’ll need to make sure they come from wood that’s not treated or sprayed with pesticides.Īlso avoid walnut wood shavings, since they produce juglone, a toxic chemical that will kill your tomatoes or anything else you try to grow.īut natural, untreated wood shavings will prevent water from accumulating in the dense clay below the amended soil. Put a couple of inches of wood shavings across the bottom of each hole. ![]() Space these holes at least two feet apart. Since you’re starting with tomatoes first, make sure to choose a site that receives the eight hours of full sunlight they require.įor each plant, use a high-quality spade that’s clean and sharp, and dig up a plug of soil that’s about 16 inches wide and a foot deep. Just make sure to choose brassicas, legumes, or cucurbits to follow tomatoes – or other nightshades – in your garden, and rotate them the following growing season as well. The good news is that you can still plant other vegetables in that hard-won aerated earth. This crop rotation helps prevent soil-borne diseases and discourages the proliferation of insect pests that prefer one type of crop over another. Tomatoes should be rotated to a new spot after the first year, and not planted again in the same space for two seasons after that. ![]() This is tougher when all of your available garden space has dense earth, but it’s essential. If you’re planning to grow tomatoes every year (and why wouldn’t you?), anticipate amending the soil in several different garden spots over the course of the next few seasons. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |