Save those pine needles and use them to suppress weeds next spring. I mulch 1000 tomato plants with pine needles every year. The results are amazing, check out my farms Facebook page and see for yourself:
https://www.facebook.com/Flint-City-Farms-1533223683572101/?fref=ts
Thanks for the link.
I was hoping the needles would work. They break down slowly and really help keep moisture in the ground!
It’s odd.
I used to plant around one hundred acres of crops plus hay.
Doing things small scale is making me reconsider everything.
Small scale calls for different methods.
It is interesting doing things differently though.
I used to stake our tomatoes.
Last year I used circular cages. I staked the cages but they still wanted to tip over.
Next year I am thinking of running woven wire down the row and gently tying the plants to the wire.
I noticed one man even did that for his cukes.
Living and learning.
The older I get, the less I realize I know.
Beautiful tomatoes you have!
I have a problem of rot with heirlooms. How do you get such perfect ones?