EARL's METHOD

[cottonpicker]

earl... Tomato planting season is upon us once again in the North and I know you have posted your "tomato hole preparation" method here before, but since you are one of the PRIMIERE growers and "Father of the "Earl's Faux"variety, would you again please post your method for growing such phenomenal tomato plants? Newer members may not have seen it and I think there is no question as to it's success.
Thanks!

[feldon30]

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=9266

[recruiterg]

What exactly is "composted peat humus?" Is this product widely available?

[feldon30]

My impression is it is peat moss which has been composted/rotted.

Again, I just follow the fertilizer recommendation on Earl's method, not the soilbuilding, especially since the 99 cent bags of soil at Wal-Mart are not something I want to add to my garden.

[hasshoes]

Yeah. . . don't buy the undecayed/composted spagnum peat moss (that they sell at Home Depot/Lowes). . . I made that mistake two years ago and it will mess up your soil PH. I believe it is in a big green and white bag and is kinda like a giant square. I actually started a thread on this called "earl's hole disaster", lol. . . but is seems to have expired. :0) I had to go to a nursery to find the right stuff for the rest of my holes. I highly rec. Earl's method though--- I got tons of maters in a community garden where everyone elses plants keeled (though of course I shared :0)


Does anyone know what to use INSTEAD of Tomatone for Earl's Hole method??? I have a garden plot where they're certified organic, so stricter. Thanks. . . hope I'm not thread hi-jacking!

[feldon30]

I believe the reformulated TomatoTone is organic. Check it out.

[creister]

Peat moss does not promote bacterial growth in the soil. It actually prohibits it. That is why it was used to pack raw fish in by the Vikings.

[recruiterg]

What could you substitute for composted peat humus that would build beneficial bacteria in the soil?

[feldon30]

If you want beneficial bacteria in the soil, use something like the newer TomatoTone with BioTone, or just use BioTone directly, or MicroLife, or really any product which already has beneficial microorganisms in the bag.

Then make sure to feed your bacteria with molasses, etc.

[hasshoes]

From what I understand the new "organic" Tomato-Tone is not OMRI listed and not approved for certified organic production.

I'm not looking to be certified , but the garden plot is within 50 feet of a farm that is certified, so we are only allowed to use the same practices.

ps- I think the reason - or at least part of the reason- of adding composted peat moss is to make the soil nice and fluffy, properly aerated. . . to keep the soil from being compacted or waterlogged (which can lead to BER- blossom end rot)

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by hasshoes

ps- I think the reason - or at least part of the reason- of adding composted peat moss is to make the soil nice and fluffy, properly aerated. . . to keep the soil from being compacted or waterlogged (which can lead to BER- blossom end rot)

That's certainly why I use peat. It doesn't have any "goodies" in it. I add it for texture reasons.

And if it does not wick water easily, I add a little soap to the water before watering it the first time. That adds sufficient surfactants to it that it will accept water.

[hasshoes]

Originally Posted by creister

Peat moss does not promote bacterial growth in the soil. It actually prohibits it. That is why it was used to pack raw fish in by the Vikings.

Does this include composted peat humus as well? I would think the stuff that had broken down might be different, no?