April 16, 2009

The thing about tomatoes is

they are fairly durable plants and you don’t want to kill yours with kindness. Gary Ibsen of TomatoFest writes, “Many growers harm their tomato plants by over-watering. Soggy soil may cause your tomato seeds to rot. Once the seedlings have started, they should be watered thoroughly then left un-watered until they are almost ready to wilt, then water them again.”

Or not. Reminds me of a conversation I had with a women in Fullerton who grew up in the Basque community there. The sheepherders, she said, used to “dry farm” tomatoes at the turn of the last century. Dry farm meant a “coffee can” or two of water to get the plants off to a start, then no water at all after the vines flowered. “Just a pinch of arsenic to keep the bugs off,” she added helpfully.

Dry farming provides a rich tomato taste and is even gaining fans among the foodies at the farmer’s markets. You plant deep, mulch thoroughly, water until the vines flower, then not a drop after that. 

Sunday

Green Scene Garden Show - Fullerton
Coronado Flower Show - Coronado