My tomato patch was established on new ground this growing season.

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After preparing the soil by the addition of compost, dolamite, organic mushroom compost, wood ash and locally collected seaweed , I watered it in and rested the bed for two weeks. I then dug the bed over and planted out four varieties of tomatoes which had been posted on from tube stock, in late November.

 After about three weeks I was surprised and a little disappointed in the poor progress of these plants; despite being strong stemmed and sparsely leaved ( I avoid the use of additional nitrogen until fruit set.)

Around this time a friend gave me a bag of Triple R Biochar ( I had used this product the previous year with apparent good results on a variety of vegetables.)

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 I made up a mixture of compost, dolamite and the Biochar ( with the emphasis on the Biochar)  with which I top-dressed the tomatoes with a layer of the mixture approximately 10cm in depth, over this I placed a heavier layer of seaweed.

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 The response of the tomatoes over the following month was most impressive; strong vigorous plants with abundant flowers and subsequent fruit set.

 Once fruit are established, I apply a dilute mixture of organic fish emulsion and magnesium sulphate about once a fortnight.

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I am pleased to report that these plants are now producing one of the best tomato crops I have grown in the past forty years.

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 Being a strong advocate for the vital role that the micro biome plays in the health and growth of plants and animals, I feel that the claimed benefits of Triple R Biochar in this regard is apparently justified in my experience.