What about your tomato crop this year? Was it good, bad or
awful? Fall is a good time
for a full evaluation of your effort.

Did you grow one of the standards or try anything new? Were
you happy with the cultivar
grown? If not, remember that next year and try a different
one.

Did you have the right fertility program? Did you have white,
hard spots in your
tomatoes? Were the fruits small or did they fall off in the
bloom stage? All of these
problems are a results of your fertility program.

Remember, the soil test is one of the most important parts of
tomato growing. You need
to test a soil sample in November or early December.

Did you have blossom end rot? If you did, the calcium level
from the soil test is
critical. This problem results from inadequate calcium levels,
along with water
fluctuations.

Speaking of water, fall is a good time, too, to get that drip
irrigation you were going
to put in the garden for next spring. Drip is the ecological way
to save water. It will
reduce the chances of some diseases, too, by keeping the foliage
dry.

And before you put up those tomato cages, spray them with a
15 percent bleach solution.
That will prevent carrying over this year’s diseases.

Finally, remember where you planted tomatoes this year so you
can change places next
year. That, too, will reduce chances for disease and insect
buildup next season.

To get a soil test kit, see your county Extension Service
agent.