Growing six types of tomatoes but no potatoes

By Amanda Thomas
Bob and Rose Wolverton of Hamburg, N.J., have six varieties of tomatoes they’re trying to grow in their garden. Each year, they try new types of tomatoes.
Want to know more about how they do it? Then join Dirt’s Kitchen Garden Tour on Sunday, Aug. 11.
The Wolverton garden is primarily vegetables and everything is organic. They also have blueberries, herbs, beans and blackberries scattered around the property. Their grandkids eat the berries and love to eat from the garden, too.
They used to grow corn but the bears got to it and starting nesting in the corn stalks. They also gave up on potatoes because it takes up a whole garden of its own.
So they don’t eat potatoes anymore because it’s not in their garden.
The Wolverton System
Water that comes from the brook in the woods behind the house. It’s natural water so there are no chemicals that spread to the plants.
BT to prevent worms, turkeys around the property to eat the bugs and ticks, and “companion plants” that help with other plants to keep the bugs away.
Natural compost and fertilizer.
A nitrogen source from something they call “Fish.” The mixture is made out of real fish and “smells awful but it works great on the plants.”
Marigold planted around the garden to keep the deer away. It works for a little while but then the deer don’t care anymore and get in the garden anyway. The Wolvertons report there are a lot of “critters this year especially.”
Rose says her grandmother always said: “(Grow) twice what you need; half for the animals and the other half is what you eat.”
The Wolvertons say it’s important and rewarding to grow your own food and know where it comes from. And it teaches responsibility – especially for children. Rose says that every one of her kids and grandkids are required to be involved in the upkeep of the plants around the house and in the garden.
The practice has been passed on since her grandmother started the garden and had a dairy farm.
They also try to take classes to get tips and improve on the garden though they report that took a Master Chef class recently and hated it.
Want to learn more from the Wolvertons’ generations of experience?
Ride the guided tour bus with Dirt Editor Becca Tucker or take a self-guided tour. Join the after party and celebration at Mohawk House with samplings from Angry Orchard, Windy Brow, Get Juiced, Shannon’s Eyes on the Prize and Spring House.
Tickets available at KitchenGardenTours.com or by calling 845-469-9000 ext 354.