Backyard Tomato Workshop scheduled in Andalusia

By Carole Brand

Published: April 9, 2008

A backyard tomato production workshop is planned for Thursday, April 24 in hopes to answer questions for many backyard gardeners on how to prepare the soil, staking and caging tomatoes, different varieties and food safety and preparation of the homegrown special fruits.

For many backyard gardeners, tomatoes are one of the most essential crops planted each year on patios, in garden spots and on porches across Coffee County, Stan Windham, Coffee County Extension Coordinator said.

Since questions from gardeners across the county has came in from county extension offices in Coffee and Covington counties, the workshop was planned Windham said.

“We always have phone calls from the public wanting to know how to prepare the soil and other factors,” Windham said. “We go through answering a lot of questions about growing tomatoes from those who want to grow them in patio pots or people who have large gardens.”

Subjects for discussion at the workshop include choosing varieties, selecting a site, preparing the site, transplanting, staking and caging and food safety and preparation.

The workshop is April 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the USDA Agriculture Service Center in Andalusia.

There is a $10 cost for the workshop with a limit of 40 people. Applications can be sent to: Covington County Extension, P. O. Box 519, Andalusia, Al. 36420 or contact the Coffee County Extension System at 894-5596.