"Jay" wrote in message
. ..
| This year was my first attempt at vegetable gardening and I have
| learned some lessons the hard way.
|
| 1. Tomato cages are only good in theory. I went with 6' tomato cages
| because I live in Texas and wanted as much foliage to grow as possible
| to shade the fruit. Yesterday, my 8.5' tall tomato plants fell to the
| ground because the cages wouldn't support them anymore. Next year I
| will get out the table saw and the brad nailer, buy some fence boards,
| and make some super-sturdy 8' teepee trellises to hold them up. My
| solution this year was to drive some cedar spikes in to give the cages
| some support, then hack back the tops of the tomatos. I will maintain
| them at 6 feet this year.

You can throw up your teepee around the cages this year. This is the
technique I use. Cages provide good early support, then when the plants
outgrow them, the vines can be ties to the teepees.

| 2. People plant in rows for a reson. I planted my tomatos in a 4-3-3
| cluster for aethetic as well as shade reasons. However, it makes
| picking the fruit a bitch. Also, the ones in the middle aren't making
| it. This is fine because of the next point...

Try planting in a two across in a wide row where the plants are staggered on
30" centers.

| 4. Cucumbers keep growing and growing and growing. And growing, and
| growing. I'll have to learn to pickle, but these would be big-ass
| pickles. 10-12 inches long or so.

Cukes that size may be over-ripe. If you see well-formed seeds when you cut
them, pick 'em sooner.