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The Tomato Field extends 120ft into the photo. We grow a variety of tomatoes, especially many of the heritage varieties. This is one of my favorite fields to work, since the East Pond and Marsh Pond are so near . . . and I seem to never get tired of looking in the ponds, seeing the minnows, frogs, and other things which bring life to the placid water. |
Getting the Tomato Field set up is
quite an involved process. After discing to prepare the soil, I plow a deep furrow
for each row (helps to set the roots at a good depth). I then pound in metal posts
or wooden poles. The plants go in next and are tied with fabric strips to a pole.
Each plant gets a good drink of pond water, then I push the mounds of dirt into the
furrows to secure both the plants and the poles. I run wires or heavy nylon cord
from pole to pole the length of the row to help sturdy the row and provide a tie-off point
for growing plants. Additional runs of wire/cord are done every 2ft as the plants
grow. Finally, grass cut from our Mulch
Fields is added between plants and between rows. In the fall, the wires/cords
are removed and all the posts come out. The field is fertilized and wintered |
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Here are the growing tomatoes in mid-summer. I use metal grape posts and wooden poles with wires to support the rows of plants. The rows have been mulched with grass from our Mulch Fields. |
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Farming is a learning experience (or at least - it SHOUILD be!). I decided to use wooden stakes and nylon twine to support the plants in one area. It looked good and worked fine while the plants were small. As they grew and started adding the weight of the tomatoes, the system started to sag. Some strong winds with a thunderstorm knocked over dozens of plants. Next year, I won't be so cheap - I'll use metal stakes and metal wires - everywhere! |
August 27, 2003 - Implementation of "Lessons Learned" - I'm using only metal grape posts and I alternate rows of bailing twine, then a row of steel grape wire. The lowest steel wire has a 3/4" black plastic irrigation pipe attached. So far - this system is working fine. The row pictured is Gold Nuggets with a row of Sweet Million to the left. |
February 2007 - The Tomato Field is resting in the middle of winter. I have removed the row wires and irrigation tubes and coiled them at the head posts. This will allow me to use Miss Daisy to work the soil before the new plants are ready to be set out. |
