A wrote:
thanks, hadnt mulched yet-i was considering a mesh-like collar laid on
top the soil around the base.

Anything to prevent splashing. Even newspaper would work.


this wkend i replaced the small cage with a bigger cage to hold the
vines. i broke off one smaller branch when recaging-does anyone seal off
those open wounds?

Nope. Tomatoes are pretty tough that way. Do you remove the suckers that
appear between the branches and stem?

..