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

"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

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/

On 29/3/07 17:00, in article
ult, "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.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

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.

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)

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/

In article ,
(K) wrote:

Greatest weight per bag? Or
greatest weight per plant?

Both! They were very surprised.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

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

"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

In article , says...

"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



depends how closely you have planted them.

GillM