{june 4th 2011}
{june 15th 2011}
{july 17th 2011}
I have my tomatoes and tomatillos planted, separate from my other garden, in an area next to the chicken coop. This spot used to be covered with Bishops Weed, a nice looking but horribly invasive plant. Two years ago we penned our chickens there for a while. They did a fairly good job of turning it into a muddy, greenery free mess. Then, last year, we decided to reclaim the area and did so by planting our vining crops there (cukes, zukes, squash and pumpkins) in black plastic. This year, after taking up the black plastic, I was delighted to find healthy looking, workable soil that was easy to weed since the black plastic kept a lot of what we didn't want from growing.
I hand tilled this area and mounded up the dirt into free form raised bed rows, mulching the paths heavily with straw. After spacing my tomato plants about 2 feet apart I then planted marigold, nasturtium and sunflowers in between each plant based on my whim. Now, I have a very healthy looking (knock on wood), virtually weed free area, if not an out of control tomato jungle. You can tell I am not very good at pruning, pinching or whatever it is you are supposed to do with tomatoes. I'm using this method of support for the first time and I am really, very happy with it.
Here's another view from the other side so that you can see there are still paths in there, albeit narrow ones, to get around. You can't see it in these pictures but I also planted a patch of zinna right up against the coop inside the garden which makes it quite colorful in there and an old elm tree stump (in the bottom right) makes a nice sitting spot.
