Tomatoes require high amounts of nutrients, to the tune of 20 kg of manure per square meter. However, applying so much of manure increases the chance of nutrient loss due to leaching. Hence, new systems of growing tomatoes are being developed constantly to optimize conditions so that there is no nutrient loss and problems of soil borne pets and diseases can also be dealt with effectively.

Several organic growers and scientists have come with different growing systems. At the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, senior scientist, J. N. Sorenson has developed a combined growing system. He has established a system consisting of boxes filled with compost, which have holes in the vertical walls and this is placed in the soil. This design aims at developing a system which combines the advantages of growing in soil as well as in confined beds. Through the holes, plant roots grew into the soil surrounding the boxes. The compost consisted of organic clover grass and wheat straw and was used both as a growing medium and a nutrient source.

In such combined growing system, tomatoes can take up water and nutrients from soil as well as compost. Moreover, the compost can be replaced before each new planting. If organic manure is a limiting factor, the compost compensates by providing the same nutrients. There may be problems such as root damage but the scientist believes that it is less significant compared to problems encountered during common soil growing.

Several manufacturers of tomatoes have come up with containers to promote backyard gardening and master-gardener Paul James demonstrates how one of these can be used to grow tomatoes. It consists of a self-watering planting system that has been designed to hold one or two tomato plants. The system includes a special planting container, 40 quarts of a specially prepared potting mix, a blend of organic fertilizer, a cage and some red plastic mulch. The self-watering system is basically an internal reservoir that holds up to four gallons of water.

1 Begin with the planting mix being prepared in a separate container.

2 Water is then added to make it moist, taking care that it does not become soggy. The moistened mix is then transferred into the planter till it is filled, making sure that the mix is pressed firmly into the channels, through which water enters from the reservoir. This is extremely important as the moist potting mix will slowly draw water from the reservoir when the mix starts to dry. This makes sure that the root ball has adequate moisture at all times.

3 Organic fertilizer is also added when you are topping the planter, making sure that it mixes well with the soil.

4 Red plastic mulch is then used to cover the planter. Scientists find that the red part of the light spectrum is the one most preferred by tomatoes.

5 A cut is made in the mulch to make way to plant the tomato plant. A cage is then placed over the planter to support the plant.

The advantage of this system is that tomatoes will grow in a sterile planting mix, which reduces the likelihood of attack by soil-borne fungus or bacteria. Moreover, the self-watering feature of this planting system will help control blossom end rot, which results in a blackening of the fruit. Though this is caused by calcium deficiency, it actually is the result of uneven moisture in the soil.

If you like Growing Vegetables....These pages might also interest you:

Good Looking Vegetable Gardens, Growing Garlic, History of the Tomato, How to Grow a Great Pepper, When are Vegetables Ripe?, Growing Oversized Vegetables, Growing Peas in the Garden, Growing Tomatoes, Tips for Growing Potatoes