On Growing Tomatoes

There are all kinds of ways to measure a summer. The last couple years proved to be dry ones, where the heavy clay soils in our back yard cracked and nothing thrived as well as the weeds did. (And yes, I admit, I get lazy about weeding when temperatures are in the 90s.)
But this year is turning out to be one of those special summers: A good tomato year. Every few years I get one of those. I am never sure why. This year has been hot and it's had its dry spells, but the tomatoes I planted are doing great, and for that I am grateful -- and full of red fruit.
I made sure when planting that I dug large, wide holes, and filled them generously -- aside from the tomato plants -- with peat moss, manure and a bit of playground sand. And I made it a point to water more frequently, so this year the tomatoes are growing like gangbusters. I'm venturing into the garden each day plucking off luscious cherry tomatoes, shoving them fresh and sun-warmed into my mouth. My husband and my mom have been snacking right off the vine as well. Mother Nature has been generous but I'm still not sure why. It's just one of those 'Tomato Years,' as I call them. (I suppose I could investigate more, but when it comes to gardening and cooking, I prefer to read lightly and improvise often.)
Of course I do have my little tricks. The manure, peat moss and a bit of sand seem to work well with the plantings. Each year I keep working on the soil and each year it looks a bit nicer, more crumbly, more garden-appropriate. This year is the year I bought a small roto-tiller, and what a blessing that's been. The woman who cuts my hair is an avid gardener -- this year she's trying artichokes -- said a small roto-tiller would be a smart investment. She was right. It sure was nice to loosen up the tough patches of soil and dig in little rotten leafy bits to help nurture the soil. It won't hurt, and it'll be nice to chop up the fall leaves into the garden to season the soil all through the cold months.
And as for smart pairing, someone once recommended to me that basil and marigolds are harmonious neighbors for tomatoes. I wish I could remember who told me that, for I've come to love the advice. I think I recall reading or hearing they were complementary to each other, and it would seem the case. Marigolds supposedly keep the bugs away, and there definitely haven't been many nibblers. But with basil, I'm not sure. It's strong enough in its way to ward off bugs, but it's also tasty enough to pair with tomatoes. Win-win.