Have a great invention to help with gardening? Are you the self-reliant type that prefers Building It Yourself vs. buying it? Share and discuss your ideas and projects with other members.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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I am going to be making my Tomato Raised bed. It will have 8 plants in it. How long and wide should I make it and the Height? Beale.
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,919
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A lot depends on how you're going to grow them -- staked and pruned or caged. Then figure out how much space you're comfortable with between plants--there are "standards" but many of us have our own preferences.
If you don't want to walk in/on your bed, make it narrow enough that you can reach all the plants from the sides--four feet max. Happy building! |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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Go 12 feet X 3 feet.
You will be able to get in the middle of the bed easy 4 feet is too wide I made mine 4 and wish I hadn't. Here is a grid I tossed together so you can see how to lay out the plants. Stagger them a little on each side to get more room. You should be able to get I think 10 plants in it. Worth Bed2.jpg |
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#4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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Hey Worth I got the 1st set of lower panels built. I have no idea how I am going to get 8 plants in it? It just looks so small? I guess I will have to wait and see when I get my dirt in in it. Then the Tomatoes? Beale. |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma
Posts: 664
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Just sayin
3X12 with 4 plants in each ron |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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Thanks! I want to have them like 3 feet apart I think? Is this right? 12 x3 would be easy for me. The Lumber I have is right at 12' all ready. So it will not take long. Will the 14" depth be OK? Beale.
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 278
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14" depth is plenty
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Parma, Ohio (6a)
Posts: 299
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I do 4x8 and do fine. 3x12 is probably easier to manage as Worth and others said. Mine are 12" and its just fine. Soil beneath is mostly clay.
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma
Posts: 664
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I have eight 3ft X 12ft beds and plant only 4plants per bed. By mid season even they are well crowded. Keep in mind that indeterminates will get huge when in proper soil and taken care of. My experience has been that plants will at least grow twice as big in a raised bed with proper amended soil. Most plants are about 4 feet across and 6to7 feet tall. If you do plant 10 plants in this size bed then be ready to keep them pruned well or you will have a tomato jungle.
YMMV ron |
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#12 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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Well I am game!! I have all the Lumber Free! Give me your sise and why. I will make what size the size that the person than can Logically give me the reason their version is the best? I am a Game ? Heck I am a Glutton for punishment! I love this! Beale |
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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Here is a link to a persons garden that used to post here.
I have been to this place and I think they are 3 x 12 or 10 foot beds. I do believe they have something like 8 plants in each one. Suze is one of the best tomato growers on earth. The cages are Texas tomato cages like I have. Worth http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=5688 And this link. http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/...ghlightId=5820 Enjoy. Last edited by Worth1; February 28, 2015 at 04:19 PM. |
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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Thanks for the Link Worth! Suze sure has a nice Garden! I want mine to look like that one day! Beale.
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: western Colorado zone 5
Posts: 307
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At this time I have 4 4'x8' beds, Not very deep. Water faucet and hoses, After having a good half acre or more in market garden. I have never grown in beds. First year total failure. Nothing would grow in it. I want to try again this year. If my RA will allow it. I have move to a small town to be near son. Very little room to plant. I will again plant across the 4 foot . Couple tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. I can eat no greens on this diet. I can eat root crops and squash. How close can I put in beet and carrot and such rows?. No cole family I can eat. I can eat green beans and peas if limited and tomato. Any thing real rich in Vit K I can not eat.
Soil problem has been righted I think. I have some free boards and want to put a 2' wide bed along the fence. Have not measured boards but bed can be at least 40' and think boards 16' long. I have to buy dirt to put in and not sure worth the cost.? |
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