Growing tomatoes next year in same spot?

12 years ago

Due to windy areas, areas prone to flooding, and shade, there is only 1 good spot on our property to grown tomatoes. I grew beautiful tomatoes this year, and they were quite abundant.

I will have to grow them in the same spot next year--will this be a problem? I have heard that tomatoes cannot be grown in the same spot, but my parents always had their tomato garden in the same spot in their small yard when I was growing up.

If tomatoes should not be grown in the spot but have to be, what should I do to the soil this year to keep the area fertile? I do make compost, all year long. Any ideas? Thanks!

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Comments (8)

behlgarden
12 years ago
I dont think growing at same spot would be an issue. in fact some old tomato plants survive from previous seasons and last multiple seasons. best thing to do is amend the soil again with organic matter and that should replenish the lost nutrients. also soil test may be helpful to bring back soil condition to required levels.

I have had no problems growing it at same spot. others?
abayomi
12 years ago
Ditto
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Thanks for the information Dave. And thanks for providing the search link, I always forget about the search link. I had heard/read that starting from seed is less desirable, but I figured since I got in the seed I would use it- and give myself some time to get the bed set up. I figure if by the time the bed is ready to go, if I'm not happy with what I got from seed, I can get crowns of another sort at the time. I'm patient, and figure I probably won't see anything till at least 2020. I also figured that the wet area in the sun would be the best spot, but I wasn't sure. It's big enough that I can probably expand it a bit more as time and need go on. That drive is about 200 feet long, but I figure the usable area is more around 150 feet long- and of that I figured starting out with a 20-40 foot long patch was reasonable. Maybe I'll end up with two patches, one from seed starts, and one from crowns. Reason I figured around 60-80 pound a year is because my husband and I can go through 30-40 pound a year. I pick it up by the 10 pound bag when the local farm starts selling it in the spring. Now that I have mom and sis living with us, and they love asparagus too, I figured the increase. But then, if it were free out of my garden instead of buying it, we might end up eating more than we currently do. So maybe 60-80 pounds is too conservative an estimate.
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qaguy
12 years ago
When you have no choice, you grow in the same spot.

I've been doing it for years.

Just dig in some more amendment and fertilize.
bahacca
12 years ago
I just add compost to the same spot.
digdirt2
12 years ago
I have heard that tomatoes cannot be grown in the same spot.

Simply not true. As many long time gardeners know, well amended soil including semi-annual additions of quality compost can resolve most soil problems.

Dave
greenhummer
12 years ago
I agree with Dave,,,been planting in the same hole for 30 yrs. It's all about conditioning the soil so the plant gets what it needs.
carolyn137
12 years ago
THe only reason I know of to not grow tomatoes for many years in the same spot is the build up of spores and bacteria that are shed from the foliage of infected plants and then the next year they can reinfect due to what's called splashback due to rian or irrigation.

Several years ago I know that SSE had to create new tomato growing areas b'c of that kind of build up. And one can help prevent infection of foliage with the fungal pathogens with a good anti-fungal but it's not so easy with the bacterial foliage pathogens.

And there are also some folks who have soilborne diseases in their soil that can be cause for concern as evidenced by infected plants.

I used to grow my tomatoes in a field where I had about 12 rows, 250 ft long and 5 ft between rows and I grew tomatoes in that same field for about 15-16 years. But every fall my farmer friend who prepared the field for me plowed deeply and that buried the foliage pathogens. Using a tiller doesn't accomplish the same depth.

Those who grow just a few tomatoes can mulch them well and that cuts down on splashback infection as well. All new foliage infections are via air and embedded in rain droplets.

Hope that helps.

Carolyn
tomakers
12 years ago
Mine have been the same spot for 35 years with little problem.
JMO,
Tom

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Growing tomatoes next year in same spot?

Comments (8)

behlgarden

abayomi

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