We finally got our toms ( we call them by their first name) in the ground last night, hoping the spikes in the weather will remain normal, but the deed is done! Last year was just a off year for toms, no one had a good crop, were blaming the extreme heat. So, this year, I did my homework and was taken back by all the tomato tips out there, wow! Just who do you believe? Going with my gut here, I'm trying out some new ideas that just make sense to me, and I thought I'd share some with you, feel free to chime in with your own tomato tips!
Prune or not to prune?
Epsom salts as a fertilizer and pest deterrent?
Sugar in hole for sweeter fruit?
Plant upside down?
Add fish heads to hole?
Plant lying down, the tom, not you! lol
Add coffee grounds to the soil?
Plant basil with toms for better yields?
Add eggshells and aspirin to hole, for better immune system and stronger stalks?
This is just several tips I found online, and if time allowed, I'm sure I'd find plenty more, but were going with the egg shells and asprin on a few, then I'll plant basil with a couple, marigolds too. Sugar in the hole, why not, can't hurt right? I will also prune one to see if it really makes a difference, and if I had the fish heads, I would try those too, but I might be inviting all the critters to my patch? lol
One thing is for certain, we only plant heirloom toms!! The taste is pure, nothing else describe it! And I love the fact that I'm planting the same tomato's as they did hundreds of years ago without them being altered in any way, like hybrids are. Plus, the names are entertaining too. We've got: Hillbilly, Box Car Willy, Black Kin, Mortage Lifter, Brandywine to name a few! Soon, salsa and spaghetti sauce will simmer, thanks to Tom!!
I was thinking the same thing about the fish heads LOL.
ReplyDeleteHow funny..I just got my measley little plants in the ground today too.. gonna post later.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the tips..I just need to keep the critters out of mine!
I think there is some good to all that you mentioned. Eggshells add calcium to the soil. Basil helps keep bugs away, and so does sage. Fish heads????? I'd rather buy the fish emulsion. Full of nutrients for all your plants. Coffee grinds are full of nutrients, and add a little acidic stuff to the soil. Not sure abuot the aspirin thing. Never heard that.
ReplyDeleteThe upsidedown planter thing was a bust for me. They all died!!!!
Lots of interesting tips here. Many of them, I have never heard of before. Hopefully this will be a better year for growing toms.
ReplyDeletehugs
Fish heads work but I would have a steady stream of coyotes if I used them. We have four tiny tomatoes on two plants. We plant heirlooms too. Mine are in pots. Can`t keep up with the gophers this year.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I have not heard of sugar before, but I do know that unsulphered molasses will sweeten up most any vegetable and adds some nutrients as well. For years we have buried one fish with each tomato. As long as you bury the fish about 16-18 inches down you will never smell them and nothing will dig them up, but the tomato roots will get there. I work at a nursery and planted the upside down pots for demos, they really don't have enough room for tomato roots to grow. When people ask me what size pot to grown a tomato plant in I always say a wine barrel! They just have such a deep root system and once they fill the little pot they are not happy which is about when you start really getting a good harvest and I want a happy plant about then! I enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteGirl I just LOVE that you're on a FIRST NAME BASIS with your tomatoes. heeheehaahaahoohoo... and afterall YOU SHOULD BE RIGHT?! HAHA
ReplyDeleteWell... I love the tips you shared. My stepdad was all about the whole fish head thing.... not just tomatoes either but anything he put in the ground. I don't know though... I think more than anything it was his excuse to go fishing. lol
Love the varieties you plant and the only thing that really seems to help mine here in Arkansas is I mulch SUPER THICK with OLD HAY. Tomatoes like it steamy hot but they dry out so fast. One lady I knew who grew super good tomatoes .. I remember she used a soaker hose under her mulch. I've thought of trying that too. I can't wait to hear how your TOMs ARE GROWING and look forward to your recipes. Promise to share! I count on you ya know!!