I have a nice pile of compost now so am wondering if it is to be spread on top of the garden or can it be plowed in--my husband has a small chisel plow. The compost has some bigger stuff in it but I didn't think I needed to sift it.

Regarding tomatoes: I raised Brandywines this year (wonderful) and they have "potato leaves" What is the significance of "potato leaves"? I notice that designation in the seed catalog. Just curious.

There are different schools of thought regarding putting compost on the surface or tilling it in. I think both methods work just fine. I'm not a big fan of plowing too much to I just put my compost on top and maybe rake it in a little bit.

I have no clue about the potato leaves on Brandywines. Never heard that before!

I also like to leave the compost on top of the soil and let it work into the soil over time.

The only reason I can think of for calling Brandywine leaves "potato" leaves is that they resemble the leaves of the potato plant.

The potatoe leaves of a bradywine is just part of the plants past. Several heirlooms have that type of leaf. Remember that potatoes and tomatoes are related.

Hi, I just put my compost on top. It will work it's way in or get turned in when you plant there again. It holds in the moisture when it is on top and conserves water.

I noticed that some of my tomatoes have leaves like potatoes. And since my potatoes are nearby I would have to look twice to make sure one hadn't moved itself to a better home.

If it is finished compost I would wait to use it until next spring. It will do good now but will do your plants and soil even more good in the spring. For this winter you can either mulch heavily (8"+ deep) with straw, leaves, old hay, grass etc.. Or you can till up the ground and plant a cover crop such as rye or clover or other winter hardy cover crop. in the spring mow the crop down than till it in and plant your seeds and transplants about 2 weeks later after the green manure has a chance to break down.

If you still want to apply compost this fall it is best to put it on the surface and let the soil organisms work it in. Plowing only hurts the soil by disrupting the micro-herd that lives in the soil (Imagine a big earthquake or asteroid hitting your home every 6 months or so-that is what the soil life goes through with each deep cultivation.) If you want to work it in do it as shallowly as possible.

Re: Potato Leaves. Some tomato cultivars have what is called a potato leaf. This is a much wider leaf (that resembles a potato's leaves) compoared to the leaves of most tomato plants. All true brandywines have potato leaves as do a few other heirloom tomato varieties but most tomato plants have the skinnier leaves.

I think it depends on your soil whether you put the compost on top or work it in. If it's in pretty good shape already, just put it on top. If you soil is especially sandy or heavy clay or some other problem type, then work it in.