Houston Tomato Garden

TomTim · April 3, 2014

This is my little garden. I have been working on it for about 13 years. Each year I learn a little more. Still a complete rookie, but I like it.

kath · April 3, 2014

It's a charming little garden- thanks for posting the pics. I've been gardening since the early 70's and I still feel like a rookie, too. There's always more to learn.

kath

Doug9345 · April 3, 2014

I like it. The fence should keep some things out.

dpurdy · April 3, 2014

TomTim,
Nice backyard garden. That fenced-in area will be full of green soon.

dpurdy

TomTim · April 3, 2014

Thank you for the comments. My Early seeds got wiped out by the freezes in February these plants were mostly set out around the first of March. Varieties, from back left are German Johnson, Kewaho, Better Boy, Early Pink, one Paul Roberson, Cour Di Bue, Bloody Butcher, Giant Syrian, Homestead, Gulf States 46, Carmelo, Sioux City, Russian Purple, Early Girl, Matts Wild Sweet Cherry. I also have Cherokee Purple, brandwywine, big boy, Juliet and chocolate cherry growing behind this garden. I also have beans, peppers, squashes, corn and melons mixed in. Those are Brussels Sprouts in the middle row. Things are really starting to grow this week.

whistech · April 4, 2014

I like it! Be sure to post how each variety does with our heat and humidity.

Fiishergurl · April 9, 2014

Beautiful. Cant wait to see it in another month.

Ginny

peppero · April 9, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

It's a charming little garden- thanks for posting the pics. I've been gardening since the early 70's and I still feel like a rookie, too. There's always more to learn.

kath

I think Kath expressed it well. May you always elude failure.

jon

Vespertino · April 13, 2014

That's awesome! How many tomato plants were you able to squeeze in there? I'm a fan of small, efficient gardens because I don't have a lot of land to play with and it's interesting seeing what others are doing in similar circumstances.

TomTim · April 13, 2014

I have 42 tomato plants in that space. I am a very slow learner, so it's hard to compare one years garden with the last. For the last twelve years I was growing about 36 plants, but my rows were oriented east to west, and my bigger plants were on the south side of the garden. Last year I learned that was the completely backwards way to set them up. I also switched it from 8 4x8 beds to the two long wide beds I have now. Last year I also had a hail storm in May that just shredded everything. This year the plant heights, seem to be almost perfect with the level slanting from tallest northwest corner to lowest, south east corner. This is the first year that it looks like every plant will produce. In prior years parts of my beds did not perform as well. I believe it was due to soil fertilization issues, and possibly Japanese beetle grubs.

I like the tight spacing, but I am sure it's not the way. I am also pruning and training more this year.

Vespertino · April 13, 2014

Each year we learn more and more

Sounds like you've got a good placement system for this year. I hope you have a good tomato harvest! Sometimes pruning to make sure one plant doesn't eat it's neighbor is all you can do. I had sungolds that took over my terrace last year and I had to cut them back

I've got a tight spacing issue as well this year, but I don't have nearly as many as you. It's really amazing that you've for 42 into that space.

April 3, 2014	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	It's a charming little garden- thanks for posting the pics. I've been gardening since the early 70's and I still feel like a rookie, too. There's always more to learn. kath

April 3, 2014	#3
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	I like it. The fence should keep some things out.

April 3, 2014	#4
dpurdy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Norwich, New York Posts: 255	TomTim, Nice backyard garden. That fenced-in area will be full of green soon. dpurdy

April 3, 2014	#5
TomTim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Houston Posts: 14	Thank you for the comments. My Early seeds got wiped out by the freezes in February these plants were mostly set out around the first of March. Varieties, from back left are German Johnson, Kewaho, Better Boy, Early Pink, one Paul Roberson, Cour Di Bue, Bloody Butcher, Giant Syrian, Homestead, Gulf States 46, Carmelo, Sioux City, Russian Purple, Early Girl, Matts Wild Sweet Cherry. I also have Cherokee Purple, brandwywine, big boy, Juliet and chocolate cherry growing behind this garden. I also have beans, peppers, squashes, corn and melons mixed in. Those are Brussels Sprouts in the middle row. Things are really starting to grow this week.

April 4, 2014	#6
whistech Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Between The Woodlands and Spring, Texas Posts: 553	I like it! Be sure to post how each variety does with our heat and humidity.

April 9, 2014	#7
Fiishergurl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oak Hill, Florida Posts: 1,781	Beautiful. Cant wait to see it in another month. Ginny

April 13, 2014	#9
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	That's awesome! How many tomato plants were you able to squeeze in there? I'm a fan of small, efficient gardens because I don't have a lot of land to play with and it's interesting seeing what others are doing in similar circumstances.

April 13, 2014	#11
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	Each year we learn more and more Sounds like you've got a good placement system for this year. I hope you have a good tomato harvest! Sometimes pruning to make sure one plant doesn't eat it's neighbor is all you can do. I had sungolds that took over my terrace last year and I had to cut them back I've got a tight spacing issue as well this year, but I don't have nearly as many as you. It's really amazing that you've for 42 into that space.