The Soil is very important. Pick a location away from large trees and where you will get good sun almost all day. It is best to start this in the fall but it can be be done in the spring as well.

Location,Location,Location just as in real estate, the best soil for tomato plants, is important for the garden. Try to find a place that has grown something before such as grass or even weeds instead of a barren lot devoid of any growth. The weeds can be taken care of but if nothing is growing there, the topsoil may be full of rock or impacted so much that it would take a tremendous effort to renew the the site.

The next step is to mark off the area you will be using. Then to till(dig) the ground up. Depending upon the size of your garden and the type of soil, you may want to have a friend help you. It can be done by hand with a spade, or easier with a rototiller which can be borrowed or rented for a few hours or a day from the local tool center at a reasonable price. The ground should be dug with the tiller, up and down and then across a few inches deep in the beginning and then deeper. Repeat these steps a few times. Again depending upon your type of soil go as deep as you can. My soil is loaded with clay so I continually dig a little deeper each year.

Then rake it out, removing clumps of grass, rocks, stones and other debris you may have discovered.

I would suggest you try to modify your soil to get the best soil for tomato plants. You can have it tested with a kit available at a garden supply store or a University Farm extension service in your area.

Otherwise

If soil is SANDY-add things to bulk it up. Compost is always the best. Regular clean topsoil, leaves in the fall, sawdust,or ashes are other choices.

If Soil is full of CLAY-it must be broken up with compost, leaves or topsoil. I also add lime to the tomato garden area yearly.

If your Soil is LOAMY- You are a very lucky person. Just add some compost as you plant.

Any soil can be made into good soil for tomato plants, over a period of time.

• Each fall I shake some lime over my garden area and then collect all of my leaves and mulch as much of the tomato garden as high as possible with them. This cuts down soil erosion and nourishes the soil as it breaks down. In the spring I rake back the leaves to be used again as mulch during the year but the bottom layers will be tilled into the soil again.

Sometimes I will add the leaves in layers and in between them , shake the lime or any compost that I may have.

I do not add any fertilizer except old cow manure or if not available dried cow manure which I buy.

These are some good tips to follow to start your tomato garden.