Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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April 7, 2008 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™ Honoree
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 791
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leaf mold
I have some of the most beautiful leaf mold and am thinking about filling my planting holes with it. About 18 months-2yrs old, 80% oak, 20% ash, misc. This stuff looks like the finest potting soil I have ever seen. About yard carts worth. Would there be any problems using this? Thanks in advance - piegirl
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April 8, 2008 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,296
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It might do your soil better to work it in the entire growing area rather than just in the hole. No matter what, I think it may be a good idea to mix up the composted leaves with some of your soil. Dirt and compost mixed is a really good thing. I have heard oak and ash leaves are among the best.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
April 15, 2008 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Pasadena, Texas
Posts: 199
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I've been growing tomatoes in leaf mold for 20 years now. I believe it is the best media to grow in. I am successful year after year while others are not. My soil is healthy and stays moist and cool under the hot Texas sun.
I haven't tilled my garden in the last ten years. I pile on the leaves and grass clippings year after year. I try to keep it at least 6-8 inches deep year to year. Millions of worms occupy the zone between leaf mold and soil just doing their thing. |
April 16, 2008 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MS
Posts: 1,523
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How long does it take leaves to break down into humus? Our little town takes bagged leaves the neighbors put on the curb to the city dump and I always thought of asking them to dump them at the farm. Have always wanted to start a big pile of leaves so I could have unlimited free organic matter every year, but just curious how long it takes to convert into really good compost.
Don
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Zone 7B, N. MS |
April 16, 2008 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NJ Bayshore
Posts: 3,848
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I mow all of my leaves and then use the mower to chop em up - then bury them or leave right on top of the soil - has turned my soil from "average" to "super" in just a few seasons.
~ Tom (who will note his soil is normally sandy/clay like)
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My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale |
April 16, 2008 | #6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PNW
Posts: 4,743
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Quote:
here: from fall to the next spring they are only about halfway composted. They stay plenty moist, but the temperatures are cool. Shredding them helps break them down faster, as does mixing something higher in nitrogen with them (grass, nettles, manure, etc). They would probably compost faster in your warmer temperatures down south. Depends on what kind of leaf it is, too. Laurel leaves, for example, compost slowly. Birch, maple, willow, alder, and aspen compost fast. Oak leaves are somewhere in between. They are popular with redworms, just like a manure pile or a pile of moist grass clippings. I dug through them regularly last winter to stock my worm bin (a fair amount of juvenile nightcrawlers were mixed in with the red wigglers in the leaf pile, maybe 30%). I came across some research on using municipal leaves as a soil amendment (nutrient levels, pH, etc): http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/supp...pal_Leaves.htm
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-- alias Last edited by dice; April 16, 2008 at 01:51 PM. Reason: typo |
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April 16, 2008 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Abilene, TX zone 7
Posts: 1,478
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I remeber my grandfather used to rake all of the leaves on his property into his garden during the fall. After the winter snow (in Michigan) melted, he would turn in what was left and he always had great soil, gardens and a lot of worms.
I also just pile up leaves and other organic matter on the garden and let it decompose. More worms every year. In fact, when we get real heavy rains, I see worms in the runoff in the street in front of the house. I haven't tilled in about 4 years. |
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