Turner Farm Planting Tomatoes
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The plants are started from seeds in February. The seeds the farm uses must be organic and so must the soil. If not, the tomatoes would not be organic. In the greenhouse they keep the seeds on heat pads until they are big enough to be transferred into the pots. To plant the tomato plant you need to dig a hole deep enough so that 1/3 of the tomato plant can fit into the hole. |
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Then you put a scoop of fertilizer in the hole. The fertilizer also has to be organic. On the farm they use chicken poop as fertilizer. |
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After you put the fertilizer in the hole, you get the tomato plant. Before planting you must take off the bottom leaves. If you don’t, the leaves will die in the soil and make the soil bad. Then you put the plant inside the hole. |
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When the plant is in the soil, you take the soil around it and cover the hole. You have to press the soil around the plant firmly so that the tomato plant will grow well. |
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The tomato plants are planted in a straight row two feet apart. The spacing makes sure that the roots don’t get tangled up. If the roots do get tangled, the plants take away each others water and they die. |
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When the tomato plants are planted, black ground covers are spread out. This prevents weeds from growing and because the covers are black, they attract sunlight, which warms the soil. When the covers are laid out, one gallon bottles are filled with water and set between the tomato plants. The water takes up the heat from the day and when the sun goes down, the water gives off heat, which warms the plants. |
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After putting covers and water with the tomato plants, big white row covers are put on. You do this by putting metal arches over the tomato plants and then laying the covers over the arches. This prevents birds and plant-eating insects from attacking the young plants. The covers also help trap heat under them, which warms the plants. |