Transcript
River Valley HorticultureJanuary 21, 2016
Presented By: Josh HardinLaughing Stock Farm
Sheridan, AR
Growing Delicious TomatoesHeirloom & Organic Production
Growing Tomatoes 101-501
Introduction
Soil Preparation
Choosing Plants & Varieties
Insect & Disease Management
Growing Environment
Trellising
Questions
• Cover crops do a lot of the work if planned and timed
• Fall/Winter cover mixes work best with tomatoes
• Clovers, legumes, grasses• Need to chop well and
incorporate 2-3 weeks before planting
Soil Preparation
Amending & Building Beds
• Tomatoes need ample calcium
• Adding compost and rock powder is sufficient
• 1 Wheelbarrel Compost per 20’ on a 3’ wide bed = 40 tons/acre
• Soil Sampling in January and once during growing season
• Add lime or sulfur to balance pH
Choosing Plants & Varieties
Heirloom varieties are tricky and need extra care and protection
Early Girl, New Girl, and Better Boy are heavy yielding and good tasting hybrids
Planting both increases success
Grafted Tomatoes
Consistent Heirloom production
Minimize soil borne diseases
A must for disease prone areas
Increases yield 2-3 times while decreasing water and fertilizer
Planting & Training
• Ground cover/Landscape fabric keeps plant free from dirt splash
• Keep leaves clipped and nothing touching the ground
• Basket weave is the traditional method
Insect & Disease Prevention
Companion planting with marigolds (1:5)
Planting ends in perennials or marigolds
Use bT for leaf munchers
Apply foliar fertilizer every week
Excessive moisture and poor drainage will kill tomatoes
Tomato Hornworm Life Cycle
• The key to prevention is identifying early
• Moths move primarily at night
Aphid Life Cycle
• Aphids & Spider Mites both reproduce many times during our warm seasons.
• Allowing them to infest will cause significant damage
Something wants it! Mother Nature has all of
the tools, we just have to pay attention
Releasing beneficialsrequires good timing and persistence
Order more than once and be sure target pest is present
Beneficial nematodes attack soil borne pests
General Tips For Success
Keep area clean of debris and weeds
Prune regularly and sterilize pruning tools often
Even moisture is critical to strong fruit sets
Make your own tunnel
Fabric Grow Bags
Grow bags produce earlier crops
Less chance of soil borne diseases
Increase oxygen and speed growth
Need timers and spray stake irrigation
Where To Find Us
Foodshed Farm Cooperative CSA foodshedfarms.com
Argenta Farmer’s Market, Sat 7-12 April-
Hillcrest Farmer’s Market, Sat 7-12 April-Aug
Baptist Health Market Wed 7-1, Parking Deck
Littlerock.locallygrown.net
Buy our organic tomato and pepper transplants right here at River Valley starting Good Friday
Limited amount of grafted plants available
Purple Cherokee, Chocolate Stripes, Early Girl, Black Krim, Carbon
Organic Grafted Varieties for 2016
Organic Grafted Tomato plants should arrive at River Valley by Good Friday just in time for Spring planting
Chocolate Stripes, Carbon, Early Girl, Purple Cherokee, Black Krim
Questions??
What challenges have you faced growing tomatoes?
Thank you for your time and Happy Growing in 2016!
Josh Hardin
laughingstockfarms@gmail.com
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