River Valley HorticultureJanuary 21, 2016

Presented By: Josh HardinLaughing Stock Farm

Sheridan, AR

Growing Delicious TomatoesHeirloom & Organic Production

Growing Tomatoes 101-501

Introduction

Soil Preparation

Choosing Plants & Varieties

Insect & Disease Management

Growing Environment

Trellising

Questions

• Cover crops do a lot of the work if planned and timed

• Fall/Winter cover mixes work best with tomatoes

• Clovers, legumes, grasses• Need to chop well and

incorporate 2-3 weeks before planting

Soil Preparation

Amending & Building Beds

• Tomatoes need ample calcium

• Adding compost and rock powder is sufficient

• 1 Wheelbarrel Compost per 20’ on a 3’ wide bed = 40 tons/acre

• Soil Sampling in January and once during growing season

• Add lime or sulfur to balance pH

Choosing Plants & Varieties

Heirloom varieties are tricky and need extra care and protection

Early Girl, New Girl, and Better Boy are heavy yielding and good tasting hybrids

Planting both increases success

Grafted Tomatoes

Consistent Heirloom production

Minimize soil borne diseases

A must for disease prone areas

Increases yield 2-3 times while decreasing water and fertilizer

Planting & Training

• Ground cover/Landscape fabric keeps plant free from dirt splash

• Keep leaves clipped and nothing touching the ground

• Basket weave is the traditional method

Insect & Disease Prevention

Companion planting with marigolds (1:5)

Planting ends in perennials or marigolds

Use bT for leaf munchers

Apply foliar fertilizer every week

Excessive moisture and poor drainage will kill tomatoes

Tomato Hornworm Life Cycle

• The key to prevention is identifying early

• Moths move primarily at night

Aphid Life Cycle

• Aphids & Spider Mites both reproduce many times during our warm seasons.

• Allowing them to infest will cause significant damage

Something wants it! Mother Nature has all of

the tools, we just have to pay attention

Releasing beneficialsrequires good timing and persistence

Order more than once and be sure target pest is present

Beneficial nematodes attack soil borne pests

General Tips For Success

Keep area clean of debris and weeds

Prune regularly and sterilize pruning tools often

Even moisture is critical to strong fruit sets

Make your own tunnel

Fabric Grow Bags

Grow bags produce earlier crops

Less chance of soil borne diseases

Increase oxygen and speed growth

Need timers and spray stake irrigation

Where To Find Us

Foodshed Farm Cooperative CSA foodshedfarms.com

Argenta Farmer’s Market, Sat 7-12 April-

Hillcrest Farmer’s Market, Sat 7-12 April-Aug

Baptist Health Market Wed 7-1, Parking Deck

Littlerock.locallygrown.net

Buy our organic tomato and pepper transplants right here at River Valley starting Good Friday

Limited amount of grafted plants available

Purple Cherokee, Chocolate Stripes, Early Girl, Black Krim, Carbon

Organic Grafted Varieties for 2016

Organic Grafted Tomato plants should arrive at River Valley by Good Friday just in time for Spring planting

Chocolate Stripes, Carbon, Early Girl, Purple Cherokee, Black Krim

Questions??

What challenges have you faced growing tomatoes?

Thank you for your time and Happy Growing in 2016!

Josh Hardin

laughingstockfarms@gmail.com