Propagation: Propagation: part XII based on my own experience, 1 by WormsLovSharon

WormsLovSharon wrote:
I am in zone 9A. I have a raised bed for my tomatoes that is 3.5' high. It was measured and had a cap placed on the edge so i could sit and work in the bed and my feet still hit the ground. I dig a hole about 18" across and 2' deep. I layer Epsom Salt, Super Phosphate, Bone Meal, Cottonseed Meal and Soil Sulfur. The process is above mixture, just a small amount, soil, more mixture, soil. I do this layering at least three times. Then the last time, I spread soil, and a small amount of the mixture on the out side of the hole into the dirt I am going to place in the hole around the tomato plant. I make a well for the first amounts of water for the first few weeks. As the weeks go on, as the plant grows, I fill in the hole. I water once a week. My main reason is to drive the roots down in search of water. As the roots are going downward, they are running into the mixture and growing in leaps and bounds. This is an program I came up with, it works for me and my daughter and a few other friends. But you must remember, we are in the high 90s by the end of April. Those roots have to be deep or the plants will fry. The photo is one of my tomato plants in June last year. I grow one grape, 5 early girls, 5 celebrity and three heirlooms. I give away more thn I eat.