So many options! The tomato is a beloved and beautiful fruit that disguises itself as a vegetable. Botanically speaking, tomatoes are defined as fruits because they form from a flower and contain seeds (like a strawberry, for example). They’re most often utilized like a vegetable in cooking, however, thus nutritionists typically consider tomatoes to be a vegetable.
With more than 10,000 tomato varieties available, planting the perfect tomato can be challenging. All varieties will benefit from mulch!
Tomatoes perform best with regulated soil moisture. Mulch provides many benefits in the garden including maintaining moisture levels, suppressing weeds and moderating soil temperatures. Exposed soil may develop a crust on the surface from repeated wet then dry conditions. A crusty soil surface restricts air flow and inhibits water absorption. A layer of mulch can prevent the soil from crusting over.
Straw mulch is a popular choice for tomatoes. Avoid using hay as it introduces weed seeds. A thin layer (2-3 inches) of dry, herbicide free, grass clippings can be used. If the lawn was treated with quinclorac (Drive), the clippings should not be used as mulch.
