Fall tomato garden preparation

Q. I'm starting to put garden beds to sleep for winter and have raised beds in mind for tomatoes next year. What amendments do you suggest to add at this point? I have good soil, lots of chopped leaves and compost at the ready. Do I add it to soil now?


A. Congratulations on being way ahead of the curve for next spring!

It's an excellent idea to add chopped leaves and compost to your projected beds for next spring. Work them into the soil. Overwintering will allow the organic matter to break down, creating fertile ground for next spring's tomatoes.

One special note: make sure any diseased plants are removed from the new raised bed area and destroyed before you add leaves and compost. Otherwise, fungi will remain in the soil and cause problems for your tomatoes next year.

Happy gardening!