Keeping the Tomatoes Happy
Tomatoes are one of our most valuable (and delicious) crops, so taking care of the plants throughout their long growing season is one our top priorities. Some of the major issues to control are the spread of leaf mold, aphid infestations, and the depletion of soil fertility. If we can keep these issues under control, many of the plants will produce well into the fall.
To control leaf mold, we raise the walls of the high tunnel as early in the morning as we can to let fresh air in and reduce the humidity. We also heavily prune the leaves to allow airflow through the plants. To control the aphids, we grow flowering plants along the center of the tunnel to attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, and we periodically introduce green lacewing larvae. To insure long-term soil fertility, we occasionally side-dress the rows with alfalfa meal, feather meal, and compost.
Throughout the long season, we will need to adapt and adjust these practices as we go, but with careful observation and adaptation, we can ensure a healthy crop for months to come.
Green lacewing larvae are effective aphid hunters, and they can be purchased from online insectaries. We get ours from Beneficial Insectary: https://insectary.com/chrysoforcer/
