Watering..Earl and others.

Rena · February 20, 2006

Earl I noticed that you had your mulch (grass clippings) touching the plants. I know that you have very sweet tomatoes. How often are you watering and how deep is that grass? Also could you tell me if you are letting the grass clippings sit or are you adding as you cut your grass? Oh and any other deep dark tomato secrets you would like to add would be helpful :wink:

Earl · February 20, 2006

Rena, in another life I'll give up my secrets. :-)

As to the clippings, I use them to keep weeds from growing, adding when I think to do so. When any weed comes through the mulch, I pull it/them and lay on top of mulch, turning weeds into mulch.

As to watering. I'm very attentive to plants needs to start with but I don't over water as I want roots to grow deep, but as they get older [producing fruit] I don't worry about water unless I don't get rain for about 7-10 days, then I just stick the hose down by roots and give them a soaking. But different soil types/temps may require different approach.

I know one thing, it sure is different in Ohio than in South Georgia. In S. GA. it was very sandy soil and it ate compost like it was going out of style.

MsCowpea · February 25, 2006

Rena, Earl already spilled the beans on his planting hole method on GW.

Competitors in the early tom contest may already be stocking up on bags of peat humus and composted cow manure--stealing all his secrets.

Anyway, I am not talking-you'll have to work on Earl.

February 20, 2006	#1
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	Watering..Earl and others. Earl I noticed that you had your mulch (grass clippings) touching the plants. I know that you have very sweet tomatoes. How often are you watering and how deep is that grass? Also could you tell me if you are letting the grass clippings sit or are you adding as you cut your grass? Oh and any other deep dark tomato secrets you would like to add would be helpful :wink:

February 25, 2006	#3
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	Rena, Earl already spilled the beans on his planting hole method on GW. Competitors in the early tom contest may already be stocking up on bags of peat humus and composted cow manure--stealing all his secrets. Anyway, I am not talking-you'll have to work on Earl. __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

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February 20, 2006	#2
Earl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,278	Rena, in another life I'll give up my secrets. :-) As to the clippings, I use them to keep weeds from growing, adding when I think to do so. When any weed comes through the mulch, I pull it/them and lay on top of mulch, turning weeds into mulch. As to watering. I'm very attentive to plants needs to start with but I don't over water as I want roots to grow deep, but as they get older [producing fruit] I don't worry about water unless I don't get rain for about 7-10 days, then I just stick the hose down by roots and give them a soaking. But different soil types/temps may require different approach. I know one thing, it sure is different in Ohio than in South Georgia. In S. GA. it was very sandy soil and it ate compost like it was going out of style.