By Bill Robinson
Register News Writer
RICHMOND —
There has been no drought this summer. However, much of the rainfall has come in occasional downpours, which is not necessarily good for growing vegetables.
Despite the erratic, and sometimes heavy rainfall, the tomatoes growing along a ridge top at Baldwin Farms have been growing consistently.
Owner Margie Baldwin put 1,000 tomato plants in raised beds this spring through holes cut in plastic sheeting as part of a demonstration by the University of Kentucky’s College Agriculture.
The plants are irrigated by a steady trickle of water piped to the beds.
Already, Baldwin has sold nearly 3,000 pounds of her tomatoes at the Richmond Farmers Market and to individuals, as well as local grocery stores and restaurants.
On Tuesday, the farm hosted other local growers who wanted to see how Baldwin’s crop was doing and to hear a presentation by Dave Spalding, a horticulture extension associate from UK.
The technique Baldwin is demonstrating is used by about 95 percent of the growers who sell at the Lexington Farmers Market, Spalding said.
The plastic covering helps control weeds and prevents erosion from heavy rains such as that which fell on Madison County only two hours before the event was to start Tuesday evening. Despite the rain and flooded roads in some areas of the county, 27 attended.
The demonstration went ahead as scheduled as skies cleared over the farm off Tates Creek Road.
Steady, trickle irrigation promotes consistent growth, Spalding said.
Baldwin said she expects to keep harvesting tomatoes until the first killing frost this fall.
The modified trellises on the tomato vines grown also make harvesting easier, she said.
Even with two months or more left in the growing season, Baldwin said she rates the experiment a success. Some other growers who came to check out the demonstration told Spalding and Amanda Sears, the local Cooperative Extension agent for horticulture, that they were interested in learning more about the method.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.
