Talk to me about "dry farming"

clkeiper · May 5, 2017

I have not heard of this except for on here. Are there places more suitable to do this than perhaps Ohio? What varieties do you use? Or are any suitable?

imp · May 6, 2017

Early Girl and Punta Banda both have done well for me to dry farm. Some cherries would be good candidates I would think. I liked to do this as it makes EG quite tasty, but less productive. It's with holding water to a large extent after the tomato plant is established well, gradually so the roots seek water deeper. Can be done any place you don't have excessive rain.

ginger2778 · May 6, 2017

Very interested in this thread. I would love to know more details. My visit to California last year was how I learned it is a thing. They have had a drought for more than 7 years, so most of the farmers who were at the farmers markets were doing this technique.

Worth1 · May 6, 2017

Dry farming is nothing new.
It is simply farming without irrigation.
All of our corn cotton and other crops here are done that way.
The advantages are you dont get salt build up in some types of soil from irrigation.
The disadvantages are you depend on the rain, if it doesn't rain at the right time of the year like a cool wet winter and spring like we have you are doomed.
Almost all of the crops like wheat in Eastern Washington are dry farmed as well as in North Dakota.
Worth

Cole_Robbie · May 6, 2017

The Chinese varieties I have tried all seem to demand being dry-farmed. When I put them on the drip irrigation with the rest of my plants, they split and crack too much.

Tomato plants in my area grow in May and June, then begin to bear in July. Last year, we had no rain at all in June, after a wet May, and the tilled garden tomatoes were excellent, especially Big Beef. That was perfect weather.

Worth1 · May 6, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

The Chinese varieties I have tried all seem to demand being dry-farmed. When I put them on the drip irrigation with the rest of my plants, they split and crack too much.

Tomato plants in my area grow in May and June, then begin to bear in July. Last year, we had no rain at all in June, after a wet May, and the tilled garden tomatoes were excellent, especially Big Beef. That was perfect weather.

The place I used to live had a good thick layer of sandy loam on top of a very thick layer of grey potters clay.
I never had to water during a normal year way up until June and them very little.
Sandy loam is very good at keeping moisture from evaporating and clay is very good at holding moisture if it has that layer of sand or sandy loam on top.
Worth

clkeiper · May 6, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

The place I used to live had a good thick layer of sandy loam on top of a very thick layer of grey potters clay.
I never had to water during a normal year way up until June and them very little.
Sandy loam is very good at keeping moisture from evaporating and clay is very good at holding moisture if it has that layer of sand or sandy loam on top.
Worth

then I am thinking this is pretty much out for me. I have sand and shale, and rocks and boulders on occasion, but not clay. that was what I was wanting to know... where and how is it done. thanks Worth. I guess that means all of our farm fields are dry farmed. what grows grows and what dies from lack of moisture is beyond dryfarming. give me two miles and there is never a need of water. it is a swamp down there. back in the 1800's they lost a few trains in a derailment.... never to be recovered.

Worth1 · May 6, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by clkeiper

then I am thinking this is pretty much out for me. I have sand and shale, and rocks and boulders on occasion, but not clay. that was what I was wanting to know... where and how is it done. thanks Worth. I guess that means all of our farm fields are dry farmed. what grows grows and what dies from lack of moisture is beyond dryfarming. give me two miles and there is never a need of water. it is a swamp down there. back in the 1800's they lost a few trains in a derailment.... never to be recovered.

Out in Bend Texas not to be confused with Big Bend in many places they have nothing but sand and grow some stuff like peanuts that way.
But you have to pick your crops carefully.
My cousins live on the river so they run big Detroit pumps day and night.

Deborah · May 6, 2017

When I forget to water my Big Beef, I just say cheerfully, "Oh well! Dry farming!"

Jimbotomateo · May 6, 2017

My friend in Nebraska dry farms wheat. When I was there they told me fifty percent of the farming in that area was dry farming. Also their wheat commanded more money because it was higher in protein for some reason.

BigVanVader · May 6, 2017

I dry farmed Siccagno di Valledolmo in the tunnel last year. They performed well and the roots were unbelievably long and thick when I pulled them. As for taste Idk as it was my first year growing them. I'll say the flavor was very intense in a way I didn't like, but I'm not a fan of reds. My sister thought they were good but she likes any tomato. I'm going to grow again under regular conditions and dry to see if there's a difference.

Barbee · May 6, 2017

Im in Ohio and only water my tomatoes at planting.

May 5, 2017	#1
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Talk to me about "dry farming" I have not heard of this except for on here. Are there places more suitable to do this than perhaps Ohio? What varieties do you use? Or are any suitable? __________________ carolyn k

May 6, 2017	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Dry farming is nothing new. It is simply farming without irrigation. All of our corn cotton and other crops here are done that way. The advantages are you dont get salt build up in some types of soil from irrigation. The disadvantages are you depend on the rain, if it doesn't rain at the right time of the year like a cool wet winter and spring like we have you are doomed. Almost all of the crops like wheat in Eastern Washington are dry farmed as well as in North Dakota. Worth Last edited by Worth1; May 6, 2017 at 08:11 AM.

May 6, 2017	#9
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	When I forget to water my Big Beef, I just say cheerfully, "Oh well! Dry farming!" __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

May 6, 2017	#12
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	Im in Ohio and only water my tomatoes at planting. __________________ *Barbee*

May 6, 2017	#2
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Early Girl and Punta Banda both have done well for me to dry farm. Some cherries would be good candidates I would think. I liked to do this as it makes EG quite tasty, but less productive. It's with holding water to a large extent after the tomato plant is established well, gradually so the roots seek water deeper. Can be done any place you don't have excessive rain.

May 6, 2017	#3
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Very interested in this thread. I would love to know more details. My visit to California last year was how I learned it is a thing. They have had a drought for more than 7 years, so most of the farmers who were at the farmers markets were doing this technique.

May 6, 2017	#5
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	The Chinese varieties I have tried all seem to demand being dry-farmed. When I put them on the drip irrigation with the rest of my plants, they split and crack too much. Tomato plants in my area grow in May and June, then begin to bear in July. Last year, we had no rain at all in June, after a wet May, and the tilled garden tomatoes were excellent, especially Big Beef. That was perfect weather.

May 6, 2017	#10
Jimbotomateo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Santa Maria California Posts: 1,014	My friend in Nebraska dry farms wheat. When I was there they told me fifty percent of the farming in that area was dry farming. Also their wheat commanded more money because it was higher in protein for some reason.

May 6, 2017	#11
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	I dry farmed Siccagno di Valledolmo in the tunnel last year. They performed well and the roots were unbelievably long and thick when I pulled them. As for taste Idk as it was my first year growing them. I'll say the flavor was very intense in a way I didn't like, but I'm not a fan of reds. My sister thought they were good but she likes any tomato. I'm going to grow again under regular conditions and dry to see if there's a difference.