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Tomato spacing
Steve Harris writes
On GQT some months back, they gave the results of a trial where they put 1, 2, 3 or 4 tomato plants in growbags. To their surprise, they got the best crop from crowding 4 plants into a bag. I'm therefore considering planting my outdoor toms in the soil at much less than the standard 18" spacing. Comments? What did they mean by the best crop? Greatest weight per bag? Or greatest weight per plant? For example, if putting 4 plants in one bag decreased the crop of each plant by 70%, you would still get a 20% increase in the crop from the bag. So the decision in this case would depend what was most precious to you - not much space, plants several plants in each bag. Lots of space, but only a few tomato plants, then give them each their own bag. Incidentally, I always used to plant veg closer than recommended - I was always growing in a small space and found that I seemed to get more crop per area (and fewer weeds) if plants were touching, even if individual plants were smaller. -- Kay |
Tomato spacing
"Steve Harris" wrote in message ... On GQT some months back, they gave the results of a trial where they put 1, 2, 3 or 4 tomato plants in growbags. To their surprise, they got the best crop from crowding 4 plants into a bag. Obviously tomato plants are gregarious! Geoff |
Tomato spacing
On GQT some months back, they gave the results of a trial where they put
1, 2, 3 or 4 tomato plants in growbags. To their surprise, they got the best crop from crowding 4 plants into a bag. I'm therefore considering planting my outdoor toms in the soil at much less than the standard 18" spacing. Comments? Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/ |
Tomato spacing
On 29 Mar, 17:38, Sacha wrote:
On 29/3/07 17:00, in article , "Steve Harris" wrote: On GQT some months back, they gave the results of a trial where they put 1, 2, 3 or 4 tomato plants in growbags. To their surprise, they got the best crop from crowding 4 plants into a bag. I'm therefore considering planting my outdoor toms in the soil at much less than the standard 18" spacing. Comments? This is going to upset you and GW. ;-) Ray used to grow tomatoes commercially back in Essex during the 50s, 60s and 70s, under glass. They grew plants for sale and for the tomatoes. He said they grew them a metre apart, producing loads of fruit. His advice is that tomatoes will grow to take up the space available to them and thus produce more fruit. Using growbags, he suggests people put two per bag and if placing the growbags side by side, put them about a metre apart. -- Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devonhttp://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ (remove weeds from address) We used to plant 18 inches by 18 inches with 3 ft paths, the reason for not planting closer was to let some air circulate to help prevent Botritus, mildew etc. and to let in light to ripen the fruit. If you are growing a single row then you could easily plant closer. David Hill Abacus Nurseries. |
Tomato spacing
On 30/3/07 00:00, in article
ult, "Steve Harris" wrote: In article , (Sacha) wrote: This is going to upset you and GW. ;-) Ray used to grow tomatoes commercially back in Essex during the 50s, 60s and 70s, under glass. They grew plants for sale and for the tomatoes. He said they grew them a metre apart, producing loads of fruit. But did they ever try other spacings? The GQT professed themselves very surprised at the results they got. I don't think they tried other spacing but OTOH they grew what they grew, successfully, for decades and not for telly or radio programmers. You could try both, perhaps and do an urg research thing if that's possible for you, space allowing etc.? Obviously, in their case they grew thousands of plants so the number was different while the desired outcome was the same. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ (remove weeds from address) |
Tomato spacing
In article ,
(Sacha) wrote: This is going to upset you and GW. ;-) Ray used to grow tomatoes commercially back in Essex during the 50s, 60s and 70s, under glass. They grew plants for sale and for the tomatoes. He said they grew them a metre apart, producing loads of fruit. But did they ever try other spacings? The GQT professed themselves very surprised at the results they got. Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/ |
Tomato spacing
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Tomato spacing
On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:33:28 +0100, K wrote:
Steve Harris writes On GQT some months back, they gave the results of a trial where they put 1, 2, 3 or 4 tomato plants in growbags. To their surprise, they got the best crop from crowding 4 plants into a bag. I'm therefore considering planting my outdoor toms in the soil at much less than the standard 18" spacing. With outdoor toms, if you plant them closer, you are presumably going to grow then by the cordon method, up canes and diligently pinced out and tied in. If they are bush type anything less than 18 inches will give you problems. I speak from experience! The bush type grow into one another and make control very difficult. Cordons need almost daily attention to keep the side shoots from growing out. I have had a real jungle of them, for several years, on the allotment, when I cannot get there frequently. Unless you can devote a lot of time to them, I suggest 18" to 2 ft. What do others do? Pam in Bristol |
Tomato spacing
"Steve Harris" wrote: snip I'm therefore considering planting my outdoor toms in the soil at much less than the standard 18" spacing. --- Hoping for another hot summer, I am growing Gardener's Delight toms. outdoors this year for the first time. Do I still need to pinch out the side shoots? MikeCT |
Tomato spacing
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