Dry growing tomatoes?

[squibT]

I've heard/read some people "dry grow" tomatoes...is that the proper term? They don't water them. Seems like an odd way to grow tomatoes unless you have the perfect climate. What about BER, MEALY tomatoes and other problems associated with improper or uneven watering?
If you have a link to "dry growing" please post it and I will look it up.

squibt

[Vince]

If I don't water my tomatoes they die. this method must not be from SoCal, it's a desert here without water. Someone from a weter place should chime in. Wish I could help.

[TZ-OH6]

There are tens of thousands of acres of commercial tomato fields that never get watered. It depends on your soil depth mainly. If roots can grow down 3-5 ft to the moist deep soil as the surface soil dries there is no problem. Heavy mulch and alot of organic material in the surface soil help too. Alot of residential homes only have a thin layer of topsoil over subsoil heavily compacted by the original construction activity, so watering is needed. There is also the arguement that if you water regularly the plants develop a shallow root system so you have to keep watering.

There is a downloadable book on dry farming here

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglib...ibwelcome.html

Everyone should also check out

ROOT DEVELOPMENT OF VEGETABLE CROPS BY JOHN E. WEAVER
from the same place tomatoes are ch 26

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglib...10137ch26.html



also found this

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/new...toryType=garde

[squibT]

Hey TZ-OH6,

Interesting links...still reading them but found these bits very interesting:

" It has been found in Iowa that steaming the soil, for the purpose of sterilizing it, has a marked effect upon the root system of tomatoes. It has been repeatedly shown that the tops of plants grown in steam-sterilized soil have a greater amount of growth and this has been found to be related to a more extensive root system. In the Iowa experiments, 140 Bonney Best tomatoes were planted in composted bluegrass sod grown on a fertile loam soil. This was placed in wooden boxes 18 inches in length and width and 10 inches deep. The experiments were so arranged that steamed soil occupied either the upper or lower half of the box or one-half of the box throughout its entire depth. The other half was filled with similar but unsteamed soil. The soils were separated by a wax seal. Great differences were found in size, extent, and fineness of roots. As shown in Fig. 75, roots in the steamed soil were larger, more numerous, and the root system had a more fibrous nature than those grown in unsteamed soil. Plants in the steamed soil had a larger and heavier root system in proportion to tops than those in the unsteamed soil."

And...back on subject...

"Other investigations have shown that, when tomatoes are grown in a soil with low water content, there are more roots in proportion to tops than where an optimum water content is maintained. Similarly plants grown in soils low in nitrates had fewer roots in proportion to tops than when an optimum nitrate content was maintained. 97"

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglib...10137ch26.html

[Chapinz8]

Growing up here in South Carolina, my father always "hilled up" the rows. I guess those were the original raised beds without any framing. We dug holes about 2 to 3 feet apart for the tomatoes. We then brought buckets of water from the house and filled the holes. The tomatoes were planted as soon as the water was absorbed. We spread a little 5-10-10 between the plants.

We also did not mulch, however, my mother was a firm believer in hoeing any weeds.

We never did anything else, never watered, and I never remember losing plants. We always had plenty of Marion, Rutgers and Marglobe. Over winter the garden filled with weeds and had to be disc'ed the next year and then tilled before planting. Of course, I do not remember drought like we have had the last 3 years.

[squibT]

Originally Posted by Chapinz8

Growing up here in South Carolina, my father always "hilled up" the rows. I guess those were the original raised beds without any framing. We dug holes about 2 to 3 feet apart for the tomatoes. We then brought buckets of water from the house and filled the holes. The tomatoes were planted as soon as the water was absorbed. We spread a little 5-10-10 between the plants.

We also did not mulch, however, my mother was a firm believer in hoeing any weeds.

We never did anything else, never watered, and I never remember losing plants. We always had plenty of Marion, Rutgers and Marglobe. Over winter the garden filled with weeds and had to be disc'ed the next year and then tilled before planting. Of course, I do not remember drought like we have had the last 3 years.

Chapinz8, Seems like a great way to start a planting. Wouldnt want to be the one carrying the buckets though.
Loved SC when I was there on work a few years ago (Greenville). Lush green place to live.

squibt

[Chapinz8]

Squibt, you're right about the buckets but it was hoe'ing those 150 foot rows that was wearisome. Lived in Greenville 4 years and it was a great place. Boy, when you move away, you move away.

[TZ-OH6]

Steaming the soil kills all the bacteria and fungi that were holding the biological nitrogen of the soil/compost. The compost went from a slow release fertilizer to a fast release fertilizer.