Dry Farming Tomatoes

greenthumbomaha · March 19, 2019

UPDATE: UNEXPECTED GOOD NEWS! One route is open to the garden. It will be a busy one, so I will not visit as frequently, but it is a "go" and still need to adapt to the situation. But it can be done!

If you caught the TV coverage of the flooding, that is where my main garden is. I live in Omaha proper and have a small acreage near the area that was shown on TV. The cities of Fremont, Valley and Waterloo are completely cut off because of the collapse of the three low lying road bridges that cross the Elkhorn River.

As a result, I need to change my growing strategy. I can't be taking a two hour detour each way just to water. I don't feel comfortable hooking a timer up to the house bib to water when I won't be there.

In my city backyard, I'll be growing mostly ind and basket cherries, summer squash, cabbage and cucumber. I already picked up frosting buckets for 8 dwarf tomatoes tbd. I have a few spots in the sun for indet tomatoes or peppers and a mini op watermelon. Thankful for that, but would like to attempt a proper garden if another road is available a month from now.

I have clay soil so dry farming with plastic mulch is my only option.
I was not planning to sauce tomatoes this year as I have a good stock remaining in the freezer.

I'm nixing onions. Won't be there to weed or water.
Don't have high expectations for the strawberries planted last fall.

Would winter squash grow with only rain, if we get any?
I read about a df technique to heavily water intentional leggy tomatoes 3 times and discontinue watering thereafter to avoid BER. Early Girl was suggested, wispy leaf type is not. Not sure what else to grow for this -
Any suggestions for pepper types and pepper management? I watered the heck out of my bells last year and they were huge for the first time in a long while. I have lots ready for this year.

Artichokes need a home too.

Any other sage advice?

- Lisa

March 19, 2019	#1
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Dry Farming Tomatoes UPDATE: UNEXPECTED GOOD NEWS! One route is open to the garden. It will be a busy one, so I will not visit as frequently, but it is a "go" and still need to adapt to the situation. But it can be done! If you caught the TV coverage of the flooding, that is where my main garden is. I live in Omaha proper and have a small acreage near the area that was shown on TV. The cities of Fremont, Valley and Waterloo are completely cut off because of the collapse of the three low lying road bridges that cross the Elkhorn River. As a result, I need to change my growing strategy. I can't be taking a two hour detour each way just to water. I don't feel comfortable hooking a timer up to the house bib to water when I won't be there. In my city backyard, I'll be growing mostly ind and basket cherries, summer squash, cabbage and cucumber. I already picked up frosting buckets for 8 dwarf tomatoes tbd. I have a few spots in the sun for indet tomatoes or peppers and a mini op watermelon. Thankful for that, but would like to attempt a proper garden if another road is available a month from now. I have clay soil so dry farming with plastic mulch is my only option. I was not planning to sauce tomatoes this year as I have a good stock remaining in the freezer. I'm nixing onions. Won't be there to weed or water. Don't have high expectations for the strawberries planted last fall. Would winter squash grow with only rain, if we get any? I read about a df technique to heavily water intentional leggy tomatoes 3 times and discontinue watering thereafter to avoid BER. Early Girl was suggested, wispy leaf type is not. Not sure what else to grow for this - Any suggestions for pepper types and pepper management? I watered the heck out of my bells last year and they were huge for the first time in a long while. I have lots ready for this year. Artichokes need a home too. Any other sage advice? - Lisa Last edited by greenthumbomaha; March 19, 2019 at 11:53 AM.