New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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Can we complain about the drought and then gripe about too much rain?
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Central PA, Zone 6
Posts: 93
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Maybe mix in some perlite or peat moss for water retention. I would save yourself some grief and skip the plastic weed stop. It has been nothing but a hassle in my experience. Simply layer mulch (bark mulch if available) 2-3 inches deep and you should be fine. Keep the mulch pulled back several inches away form the crowns of any plants you put in or are already there. The mulch breaks down and feeds the plants so you'll need to top it off a bit yearly. Deeper mulch (more than 2-3 inches) does not allow water to seep into the ground. You may still find a weed now and then, but nothing too major. I am in Central PA and this works well in my yard and gardens. Hopefully this helps. There are a multitude of videos on mulching and amending soil on youtube as well. Best of luck to you
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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Thanks Oldschool. I have some leftover cedar fence boards and thinking raised beds now. There was break in the rain and I turned ground over with spade. 20 feet long by 14 inches wide. Does three feet wide by one foot deep sound about right? I also have a small compost pile I can add in. Wondering how much perlite and peat I'd need for that area. I was getting worms with every shovelful. Thanks again, jimbo
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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The perlite wont help retain moisture but it will help keep it loose.
Vermiculite will help retain moisture. Don't hurt the worms feed the worms and they will do the tilling for you. Yes 3 feet wide is perfect. Have you thought about just turning it over by hand to mix the stuff. Worth |
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#5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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I have been shaking the grass out by hand and keeping the worms. That's a great idea worth! I'll mix everything by hand. Does it matter what depth the worms are. Finding them near the top now.
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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That is because it is so wet they come to the top.
I have seen the streets and gutters full of them after a hard rain. They like food and moisture but not too much. As long as you keep feeding them they will stay and multiply. The board idea is good too they like to hang out under boards. As for plastic dont even think about it for the most part it is a big hassle. The have roles of thick brown paper at Home Depot at the paint section I use as a mulch or cover. It is biodegradable and will last one season. Worth |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,540
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Yes, rototilling destroys soil structure as well as worms.
All I do is add compost -- you can mix it in if you're a proponent of double digging (as described by John Jeavons), or just add a couple inches on top and let the worms do the work. A few inches of mulch is also invaluable. No plastic! |
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#9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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If you go slow with the tiller, the worms will have time to move. I have watched them pop out of the ground and slide away.
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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I'll see if Antonio will till slow. I plan on shoveling three foot wide rows fo r my maters to begin with and saving as many worms as I can. My wooden raised beds should add another twelve inches for a total of 20 inches or so. Wonder how much vermiculite or perlite I need to keep the ground from getting rock hard again. This yard hasn't been tilled in 20 years or more and it's always been grass. Last year we let it go dead but the rains revived it.
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#12 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#13 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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#14 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Yarmouth,NS Canada
Posts: 296
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Cheers ! |
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,013
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If I add some compost then layer with paper do I add mulch on top of that to hold the paper down.? My compost pile is right next to my first row. Should I use it or just leave it there? I'm thinking there's probably worms in it. It's about two feet high by three feet wide.
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