128 tomato plants and one currant bush in 20 by 20 foot area - Page 4

aclum · June 18, 2013

Hi Marla,

Your gardens are looking great!! Your trellis set-up has been an inspiration for my own garden. How many total plants to you have (including the ones outside "the matrix?)? I can't imagine processing all the resulting tomatoes. It makes me tired just thinking about it <g>!

Thanks for also posting the planting materials you're using - really helpful. There are a couple of products that look really interesting and worth a try.

Do you do anything special when the plants reach the top of your trellis - or do you top them and let them play out on what's left of the stem?

Can't wait to hear or read about the results of your "test" garden and what new seeds you might be offering (I'm already thinking of plants for a fall crop or the coming year!).

Anne

Mlm1 · June 18, 2013

Hi Anne thanks for the huge compliment that my garden could have inspired yours. Your garden is beautiful.
Yes I think it is going to be a little work. I better get my mind around it soon. I can always give them away if I fall too far behind. I also have had good luck just rinsing the tomatoes, putting them in a plastic bag and freezing them. Then when I want to make sauce I rinse them under water and the skin falls off. Easier than blanching.
As far as what to do when they reach the top: a lot of the larger varieties are burnt out by that time so I do top them, some of the smaller ones can keep producing so I sometimes tie the branch along the top pole or sometimes let it flop over the top.
I am looking forward to evaluating the new varieties. Steve picks everything out and this year he has some new varieties from Millard Murdock (he developed Captain Lucky and Sweet Linda) that I am excited about.
I've been enjoying your garden pics and by the way, I am also an Aggie.
Marla

grodematers · August 7, 2013

That is a spectacular. Just how I would like my setup to be. Small area with a lot of plants. I think I might try to copy you, lol.

Mlm1 · August 7, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by grodematers

That is a spectacular. Just how I would like my setup to be. Small area with a lot of plants. I think I might try to copy you, lol.

Thanks. I think it works very well. I had another great year. I am away for two weeks so I shut the water off to the potted plants 10 days ago and did my last harvest from those plants yesterday before leaving. Prior to shutting off the water the plants looked good and most were still setting tomatoes. I have had so many tomatoes this year i decided it wasn't worth having someone come over and take care of them while I am gone. Most varieties were very productive and I got a good sampling of all varieties and gave away a few hundred pounds of tomatoes. I still have my in ground plants so I will have plenty of tomatoes for my own use for the next few months.
If I were making a new structure I would not make it so high. I would make it so I could reach the top without a ladder. I like the pellatized fertilizer I used this year a lot. It was easy to use and I only had to fertilize twice and the plants were healthy with good fruit set. I think a person could use this idea anywhere. If I didn't have fusarium I would plant in the ground instead of in pots (bags). Good luck.
Marla

June 18, 2013	#1
aclum Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Merced, CA Posts: 832	Hi Marla, Your gardens are looking great!! Your trellis set-up has been an inspiration for my own garden. How many total plants to you have (including the ones outside "the matrix?)? I can't imagine processing all the resulting tomatoes. It makes me tired just thinking about it <g>! Thanks for also posting the planting materials you're using - really helpful. There are a couple of products that look really interesting and worth a try. Do you do anything special when the plants reach the top of your trellis - or do you top them and let them play out on what's left of the stem? Can't wait to hear or read about the results of your "test" garden and what new seeds you might be offering (I'm already thinking of plants for a fall crop or the coming year!). Anne

June 18, 2013	#2
Mlm1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 208	Hi Anne thanks for the huge compliment that my garden could have inspired yours. Your garden is beautiful. Yes I think it is going to be a little work. I better get my mind around it soon. I can always give them away if I fall too far behind. I also have had good luck just rinsing the tomatoes, putting them in a plastic bag and freezing them. Then when I want to make sauce I rinse them under water and the skin falls off. Easier than blanching. As far as what to do when they reach the top: a lot of the larger varieties are burnt out by that time so I do top them, some of the smaller ones can keep producing so I sometimes tie the branch along the top pole or sometimes let it flop over the top. I am looking forward to evaluating the new varieties. Steve picks everything out and this year he has some new varieties from Millard Murdock (he developed Captain Lucky and Sweet Linda) that I am excited about. I've been enjoying your garden pics and by the way, I am also an Aggie. Marla

August 7, 2013	#3
grodematers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 23	That is a spectacular. Just how I would like my setup to be. Small area with a lot of plants. I think I might try to copy you, lol.