OSU HORTICULTURE DRY FARM TOMATO PROJECT
A three year project (May 2020 - April 2023) funded by Western SARE.
Project leader: Alex Stone: alex.stone@oregonstate.edu
Project coordinator: Matt Davis: davisma3@oregonstate.edu
The overarching goal of the project is to jump-start a dry farm tomato production system for the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
The project is:
1) identifying high performing tomato varieties, rootstocks, and scion/rootstock combinations
2) evaluating soil management strategies (tillage, mulching, compost amendments) with Amy Garrett of the OSU Small Farms Dry Farming Program
3) evaluating profitability (with Tanya Murray of Oregon Tilth)
4) developing a dry farm tomato market (with Lane Selman of OSU and the Culinary Breeding Network, and Amy Garrett of the Dry Farming Institute)
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Site Suitability
How to Assess your Site for Dry Farm Potential handout September 2021
Variety Trial 2021
2021 Dry Farm Tomato Project Variety Trial Report (for variety trial methods see 2020 Variety Trial Full Report)
High performing varieties (ungrafted): photos and descriptions
High performing varieties (grafted): photos and descriptions
Variety Trial 2020
2020 Variety Trial Full Report
Appendix A: Project Photos of High Performing Varieties
Appendix B: Variety Yield and Quality Timeline Figures
Appendix C: Grafted Tomato Report
Appendix D: Small Fruited Tomato List
Appendix E: Tomatoes Removed from Trial
OTHER RESOURCES
Summer 2020 Dry Farm Program Virtual Field Days (includes tomato production videos: site suitability, variety trial, pruning/staking, soil management).
OSU Small Farms Dry Farm Program website
GRAFTING RESOURCES (compiled by Cassandra Waterman):
Why graft? Zhao, Miles, Kubota. 2017
Grafting overview. Erin Rosskopf, ARS. 2017
Introduction to tomato grafting. A how-to guide. Cary Rivard et al, KSU.
Preparing to graft. Matt Kleinhenz, Ohio State University.
Disease management when grafting. Cary Rivard, KSU. 2019
Grafting eggplants and tomatoes. Carol Miles, WSU. 2011
Healing chamber design. Cary Rivard, KSU. 2016
Pictorial guide to tomato grafting. Matt Kleinhenz et al, Ohio State University.
Photos of tomato grafting at Even Pull Farm. Beth Satterwhite, Even Pull Farm.