Tomatoes – Move To Different Area Or Rejuvenate Soil

Q: I have heard that you can’t plant tomatoes in the same place year after year. But we have the perfect place in our yard to grow them and have planted them in the same place repeatedly. Pickings have become slim. Can we rejuvenate the soil?

A: The main reason for moving tomatoes from one area to another is that diseases and insects can build up if they are planted in the same spot year after year. But if your tomato plants seem insect and disease free you can repeatedly use the same place. It’s a good idea to dig the bed deeply each spring. Add some organic matter to the soil each year and fertilize appropriately. The tomatoes should perform just fine.