This year I was gifted many special tomato seeds from this amazing group of fig friends.  A couple came "one seed", and I really wanted to make them grow and thrive without the stupid gnats getting them.

So, I had an idea of sowing crimson clover seeds around the seed to create a shield for the tomato roots in case some creature would want to suck their lives, since some were just one seed, I could not afford to loose them. 

I germinated the seeds for about 3 days in moist paper towels, just enough to swell them up and form the root 'eye'.  Then, I planted them in small pots and sowed crimson around them and put them under the light. The clover grew so fast that it appear to compete with the tomato,  then the tomato grew and the clover seemed to stop growing.  Well, some leaves did others dried up and eventually died.  Unusual for the clover, as they are luscious plants that grow anywhere (they are cover crops for nitrogen fixing, supposedely getting the N from the air and put it into the soil)

About 2 weeks later, I had other tomatoes to go under the only light I have, and I started moving the little ones with their border of clover into cups with a bit more room. Once in cups, into a large tub, so I can move them to  areas where there is a bit more light. Even outdoors for a couple of days when we had sun...(mostly gray and rainy here!)

Last night, it was time to move some in cups to larger gallon containers and I saw that most of the clover is totally dead or almost dead, they did not complete  the cycle of growth I am familiar with, their roots are gone (did the bugs got them or just the competition with the tomatoes), and the tomato plants are doing very well, when uncupped their root system were super well developed.

Check out my Golden Cherry II, Reisce, Gypsy, African Queen, and Physallis peruviana (naming a few).I re-seeded the clover in my gallon pots.

We are not to plant tomatoes in the ground until May when our soil is warm, and I have almost a foot tall plants at end of May. This is a HUGE improvement from my previous years.

Is it the clover? The special seeds? (Thank you all who sent me these special seeds. I am really enjoying them and hardly wait for their fruiting)

I want to try this cover barrier with fig cuttings. If any of you have such experience, please share! 

Here are the pictures. Enjoy! 

I don't have any experience with clover, but I wanted to say that your tomatoes look great. Year before last, I lost almost all of mine to leaf spot and flooding. Last year, I planted too close to our black walnut tree which pretty much killed them. This year is going to be the year of raised beds which should eliminate the previous issues. I sure hope so, because I love tomatoes! I ended up buying a bunch from Amish folks down the road so I would have some to can.

I love figs! I love exotic tomatoes, that is why I am so excited about what happened with these 3 batches ( I planted seeds every 2 weeks). I have about 10 exotic varieties. Lots of blacks ( prince, Gypsy, tula, Krim), a couple of gold (Orange, sungold, Ph. Peruviana, a large beef) and white (tomesol) in addition to the other reds that grow well here (cherry, beef, and roma kinds)- will have tomatoes to eat  and plenty to share.

I am really going to put a focus on this barrier with crimson clover, as it is an annual, and will not spread unless it goes to seed, its blossoms will atrack the bees that polinate the tomatoes. In theory it is working.    Now I am excited about trying the crimson with my cuttings. I have a hard time with rooting them.

Thank Goodness for generous Slavi, he is the magic fig rooter and shared so much.  He has amazing luck with rooting and his trees are gorgeous.

Hi Grasa,
Clover is hard to grow in a pot or limited space.
To be sure, put clover alone in a pot. If it dies, you'll know they die because of non appropriate care for clover.
Clover is able to make roots along the stems as it touches the dirt ... So no need of seeds for it to propagate IMO.
On a corner of the garden, I had to remove the clover as it was extending too much .

Those are good points, I am going to test a big more before singing joy, but this is not your average clover, this is an annual and do not spread like those grassy clovers.  In california, I saw it planted in huge rows between grape trellesis. They allow it to flower and seed and turn it under.

this is where I got my idea... I could be totally off mark and just had good luck, huh
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g29111-d2409057-i54771369-Laetitia_Vineyard_and_Winery-Arroyo_Grande_San_Luis_Obispo_County_Californ.html

Grasa, I say this with a smile.  "You are crazy like a fox!!"

You bring many great ideas and experiments to the forum!  Keep it coming!

Suzi

Grasa, since you like clover as a cover, what about pole beans growing up our fig trees and vineyards?  Same beneficials!

Suzi

Grasa  - your crazy.
Sorry could not help myself.  ; )