Growing Roma tomatoes

I am trying this (tomato) for the first time and I notice that it looks more like a very thick bush, does anyone know if this is something I should thin out or do I just leave it alone?

roydcole & Group:

Prune Romas just enough to keep leaves off the ground and allow light into the center of the plant,

Indeterminate plants can and should be grown vertically by taking off the sucker stems.

Determinate plants - such as the Romas - will not grow tall, so the only sucker removal is to open up the plant somewhat, and pruning leaves is to keep them off the ground.

And by the way, we recommend you plant indeterminates - anything you're growing vertically - in one row only, on one side of the bed near the ridge. This makes feeding, watering, weeding, and even harvesting easier.

Jim Kennard

Why the Mittleider method is organic

There are several reasons the Mittleider Method of gardening is sometimes called “the best of organic”.
I. Rather than teaching the use of pesticides or herbicides, we use cultural practices to eliminate the need for them. For example:
1) We eliminate all weeds – from the beds, the aisles, and even the garden periphery.
2) We never water the aisles, but keep just the root zone of the plants moist.
3) We keep leaves off the ground, and prune plants to maintain good air circulation.
4) We grow healthy plants fast, so they have good resistance to bugs and disease.
5) We don’t use materials that could introduce bugs, weed seeds, or disease into the garden.
II. We never guess about the nutrition we give our plants.
1) Compost & manure often lack some of the essential nutrients plants need.
2) The gardener never knows what elements are missing from compost & manure.
3) We use a balanced mix of USDA-approved natural mineral nutrients.
4) We feed plants regularly – in small measured amounts – to match their needs.
III. We harvest our crops at peak maturity, and never leave old plants in the garden to attract bugs and disease.

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Oh nooo My tomatoes are splitting HELP

I really need help figuring out why my tomatoes are splitting. We're having 100 degree weather right now and we are watering twice a week but our tomatoes are all splitting. Any advice?

Splitting of tomatoes is caused by uneven water availability to the fruit as it ripens, and is greatly exacerbated in very hot weather.We ALWAYS advocate watering EVERY DAY - ESPECIALLY in hot weather! In 100 degree temperatures you should be consideering the need to water TWICE a day.Remember folks, if you are growing in level, ridged beds, it doesn't take much water - only an inch in the narrow 10"-wide growing area.You should also consider giving your tomato plants a little shade in the hottest part of the day. When that sun comes down so strongly on the exposed fruit the temperature changes don't help at all.A 30-50% shade cloth over the plants can give some relief. It may also help your plants continue to set fruit, which is another problem they often experience during the worst of the hot days.

My new Mittleider garden

I am so excited all the plants are about 3-5 inches tall I have six varieties of tomatoes, and five varieties of Peppers, mostly hot, Habaneros, Jalepeno, Chinese Giant sweets, Yellow sweet bananna peppers.

As usual I will have garlic, horseradish, and even going to do some mellons this year. Next year I will increase the size of the garden again.

The thing is I could have 9 greenhouses in my backyard based on the Food for Everyone Foundation guide. Now how in the heck can I get my landlord to say yes and help me build them:):) He owns a construction company.

Many pictures to follow both here on the Squidoo lenses, the HTOG site and ofcourse the main www.foodforeveryone.org main website.

Jim is in Armenia currently, man that guy has a big heart, and nerves of steel, dangerous place, and all to help others. Jim is definately a role model to follow.