I prefer to leave an open space around the base, but I'm not sure if it matters. I think it makes it easier to water, fertilize and check for soil moisture. Plus, there's less space for critters and creepy crawlies to hide.

I always mulch my tomatoes with hay, pulled right up to the stems, and have no problems. My intent is to keep soil from splashing up onto the leaves during a heavy rain, which can spread soil borne diseases. It also keeps weeds from growing around the stem. When first planted, I scratch some fertilizer into the soil around the plant before applying the hay. Thereafter, I sprinkle the fertilizer right on top of the hay and let rain take it down.

TomNJ

~~~ I am using straw for mulch around my toms. Wondering if I need to leave an open space around the base stem of the tomato or can I run the straw right up around the stem. ~~~

Depends on how thick you apply the mulch. Too much, too close can smother or burn the plant. A couple inches thick, a couple inches from the stem is what I do.

I mulch 4-6" deep here. I taper it off close to the plants and try to leave an open or very lightly covered area for an inch or two around the stem. This has worked fine for me for several years. We get hot here so the extra mulch really helps. JD

OK folks,

I do not use hay so what would you recommend in the way of mulch around my tomatoes, peppers and eggplant? A wood mulch or what other type is preferable? I am in NJ.

Thanks. Vicki

I use straw mulch right up to the stem, any method to retain moisture, weed suppression and as thomas mentioned soil splash can hurt the plant.
Straw is hollow which has an insulating factor Vicki, but you could use newspaper, cardboard, hay, or the commercial mulches you find at the local home and garden.

Good Luck

Tom

I think straw or hay are the best by far. I use hay by the big round bale full. ;) Great stuff! They have much better insulating properties, feed the soil and the plants as they decompose, easily tilled in in the fall, etc.

I suppose wood chip mulches are ok but not really a vege garden mulch in my book. Not as beneficial for the soil or the plants and really hard on tillers plus not nearly as effective at either moisture or weed control.

Grass clippings are popular with many if you have them as are multiple sheets of newspaper. You could litely cover them with the wood mulch and get more benefits if you wanted.

The important thing is to use something for mulch.

Dave

I use all loose hay I have first then grass clippings I get from the local recreation dept. for free. They don't usually spray but if they do I wait at least two cuttings and never have had any trouble. I spread them about an inch thick so they will dry good and continue to build them up to 4-6". This has worked good for me. I would suggest if it bermuda to make sure it dries good or put it in a pile and stir till dry. Because it spread from the clippings. I prefer hay but with the drought here most all hay even old is being used to keep livestock alive. I do have some loose around my stacks. JD

is mulching necessary for container tomato plants? by the way, do i need to throw in compost or those organic manure pellets from time to time or is the fish emulsion fertilizer good enough? thanks