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Grow tons of tomatoes</pre>
Author: Jean Fritz
Want to grow a ton of tomatoes, but plagued by evil soil or
limited space? The Japanese Tomato Ring allows you to grow 5
lush plants in a space 3" x 3", which should supply any family
with tomatoes from summer through frost. Basically, the Japanese
Tomato Ring takes advantage of two things - your compost pile,
and the tomato plant's propensity to grow roots along its stem.
The ring allows your compost pile to provide your plants with
support and food while its contents decompose and create soil
for next season. The growing plants disguise the compost pile
and actually make it attractive.
Build your tomato ring with 4? tall heavy-gage chicken wire and
four to six strong bamboo or plastic poles. Line out the
circumference of your ring on the ground, and place your poles
18? apart, either in a ring or a square. Encircle the poles with
the wire, sinking the bottom 6? ? 8? of the wire into the ground
(use wire cutters and snip away the bottom wire of the roll,
creating ?legs? that will help stabilize the ring.) Tie the ring
together with plastic garbage bag ties or pieces of lighter-gage
wire (such as 14 or 16 gage.)
Begin to fill the cage with compost materials ? grass clippings,
shredded newspapers, coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, etc.
Add a small amount of compost activator such as Ringers to begin
the decomposition process. As the pile inside the cage reduces,
add more compost materials, layering ?green stuff? (grass
clippings and vegetable matter) with ?brown stuff? (newspaper,
bark mulch, etc.)
Place your tomato plants every 18? around outside of the cage,
and tie the stems loosely to the wires of the cage. Use soft
material such as old socks, panty hose, or jute twine. Be sure
that all the "branches" of the plant are secured; otherwise, you
may find your plant splitting in two from the weight of the
growing tomatoes. Water your tomato plants by aiming the stream
toward the middle of the tomato cage. This will leach out the
beneficial nutrients and active microorganisms from the compost
and send it straight into the ground, offering your tomato
plants a feeding with every watering. As the season progresses,
you may find your tomato plants creating small ?nubs? along the
side of the stem that faces the tomato ring. These ?nubs? are
the beginning of feeder roots; let the plant send these roots
into the compost inside the ring. The more roots the plants
create, the more resistant they will be to drought-induced
stress, insects, and diseases. By midsummer, your tomato plants
will be decked with red, gold, pink and orange fruits randomly
placed, making your compost area look like a William Morris
print. Now it's time to harvest, slice, grab the salt shaker,
munch, and watch your favorite movie in air-conditioned comfort.
</pre>
Author: Jean Fritz
Want to grow a ton of tomatoes, but plagued by evil soil or
limited space? The Japanese Tomato Ring allows you to grow 5
lush plants in a space 3" x 3", which should supply any family
with tomatoes from summer through frost. Basically, the Japanese
Tomato Ring takes advantage of two things - your compost pile,
and the tomato plant's propensity to grow roots along its stem.
The ring allows your compost pile to provide your plants with
support and food while its contents decompose and create soil
for next season. The growing plants disguise the compost pile
and actually make it attractive.
Build your tomato ring with 4? tall heavy-gage chicken wire and
four to six strong bamboo or plastic poles. Line out the
circumference of your ring on the ground, and place your poles
18? apart, either in a ring or a square. Encircle the poles with
the wire, sinking the bottom 6? ? 8? of the wire into the ground
(use wire cutters and snip away the bottom wire of the roll,
creating ?legs? that will help stabilize the ring.) Tie the ring
together with plastic garbage bag ties or pieces of lighter-gage
wire (such as 14 or 16 gage.)
Begin to fill the cage with compost materials ? grass clippings,
shredded newspapers, coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, etc.
Add a small amount of compost activator such as Ringers to begin
the decomposition process. As the pile inside the cage reduces,
add more compost materials, layering ?green stuff? (grass
clippings and vegetable matter) with ?brown stuff? (newspaper,
bark mulch, etc.)
Place your tomato plants every 18? around outside of the cage,
and tie the stems loosely to the wires of the cage. Use soft
material such as old socks, panty hose, or jute twine. Be sure
that all the "branches" of the plant are secured; otherwise, you
may find your plant splitting in two from the weight of the
growing tomatoes. Water your tomato plants by aiming the stream
toward the middle of the tomato cage. This will leach out the
beneficial nutrients and active microorganisms from the compost
and send it straight into the ground, offering your tomato
plants a feeding with every watering. As the season progresses,
you may find your tomato plants creating small ?nubs? along the
side of the stem that faces the tomato ring. These ?nubs? are
the beginning of feeder roots; let the plant send these roots
into the compost inside the ring. The more roots the plants
create, the more resistant they will be to drought-induced
stress, insects, and diseases. By midsummer, your tomato plants
will be decked with red, gold, pink and orange fruits randomly
placed, making your compost area look like a William Morris
print. Now it's time to harvest, slice, grab the salt shaker,
munch, and watch your favorite movie in air-conditioned comfort.
</pre>