Organic Tomato GardeningOrganic Tomato Growing Almost everyone will agree – garden-fresh produce is about as good as it gets. A taste of paradise in every bite. Eating food fresh from the garden even makes us feel good about eating it. Lucky for us, organic tomato gardening techniques are being used more and more often and the results are scrumptious! Organic gardening itself is likely to evoke strong commentary, firmly planted opinions, perhaps even some pretty heated debate. The firestorm has died down a bit since December 2000 when the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a nationally recognized definition of the term organic. But the conversation continues. According to the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board, produce can be labeled organic only if it is made without the use of certain techniques and substances. To be organic, produce cannot be grown using fertilizers that are synthetic or made from sewer sludge but with organic tomato fertilizer and organic tomato seeds . Nor can pesticides, antibiotics, or growth hormones be used. Techniques that are forbidden include genetic engineering and irradiation. That leaves us with the time-tested, honest-to-goodness, natural way of farming our great-great-grandparents used. Back when food was grown close to home in small gardens and not shipped from another side of the world. When food was part of the celebration of the seasons and people ate what was ripe and ready for picking according to nature’s calendar, not according to the “marvels” of modern transportation technologies. That means organic tomato garden, where every tomato is sweet and succulent enough to pass the taste test of even the most discerning tomato connoisseur. Organic tomato plant relies on well-drained, nutrient-rich soil and a lot of really beautiful sunshine. Make sure to mulch around the base of the plant to prevent the ground water from evaporating too fast. Your luscious tomatoes may split if the ground (and the plant) are allowed to become too dry and then are faced with a rain shower or heavy watering. Water the ground instead of the leaves so the roots get plenty of water. This builds a root system that will support vigorous growth, adverse weather conditions, and hungry insects. To increase the yield when practicing organic tomatoes gardening, space your plants a little closer together than you would in other circumstances. Crowding will encourage your plants to fight for space and nutrients, which will make them stronger and more fertile. Shake the tops of your organic tomato plants from time to time during blooming. The agitation will distribute more pollen and set more fruit. Companion planting is important when enjoying organic tomato growing. Some plants that are great to eat with tomatoes are also great to grow alongside them, for maximum quality and yield of them all. Plant basil, chives, and eggplant near your tomatoes. These foods are delicious when cooked together and harvesting couldn’t be easier when they are garden neighbors. Plant marigolds with your tomatoes to keep the bothersome insects away. Earthworms underground and ladybugs above ground will help here, too. Organic gardening tomatoes folklore calls for planting tomatoes when the moon is waxing, or getting bigger, each night. And mix a little hair in with the soil when planting tomatoes. As it decomposes, it will release minerals that your tomatoes will love. Organic tomato gardening is so much more fun than the industrial way. Tastier, too!
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