Row spacing

tam91 · March 22, 2014

Decisions, decisions. Of course, I always want to grow more and more varieties, but I also want the plants nice and healthy.

I'm trying to decide how many tomatoes to put in my space. I use the florida weave. Rows run north to south. Bean trellis is on the east side. other 3 sides are completely unobstructed.

2 years ago I grew my tomatoes 3 feet apart, 5 feet between rows. Had tons of
tomatoes.

Last year, 3 feet apart, 4 feet between rows. It seemed ok last year (but it wasn't a great year). So I don't know if that was too close or just the year.

From the bean trellis to the edge of the garden I have 18 feet. Each row will be approx. 30 feet long.

So my decision is between:

40 plants - 4 rows spaced approx. 4 feet apart, 10 plants each
30 plants - 3 rows spaced over 5 feet apart, 10 plants each

What do you all think?

Redbaron · March 22, 2014

I grow my rows with 6 feet center to center. In each row a plant is either 3 feet apart for indeterminates or 2 feet apart for determinates and/or dwarfs.

I used to grow MUCH closer, but over the years I have come to understand the wisdom in giving yourself room to move around to take care of them, ventilation and sun for the plants, and the fact that yields don't really drop much. (even though there are fewer plants, each plant produces more usually)

tam91 · March 22, 2014

With the florida weave, I did have enough room to move. And my soil is quite rich, the lovely men till in a bunch of mushroom compost for me each year.

But the light and etc. certainly is an issue.

It's not so much that I'm desperately needing a bigger yield, it is the desire to try more varieties

But I would like a reasonable yield.

Worth1 · March 22, 2014

I would go with the 40-4 just because you want to try more varieties.
At some point you will have to pick your favorites and never try anything new again, ever for the rest of your life.

Worth

nnjjohn · March 22, 2014

I am going to squeeze mine in and leave walking space .. i cage mine and figure 3 ft apart circle round each plant give or take a half ft.. I had no problem here in the past in my jersey soil so, I just eye ball spacing my plants.

Anthony_Toronto · March 22, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

At some point you will have to pick your favorites and never try anything new again, ever for the rest of your life.

Worth

And when exactly will that be? I was stoic at 10 varieties last year...but gave in and I'm back to 17 this year.

kath · March 22, 2014

I've settled on 4 1/2' centers for rows and can get away with 30" spacing between plants/stakes because I prune the plants to a max of 2-3 vines. I read that tomatoes need 2 1/2 sq. ft. per plant. I've spaced rows closer in the past but found it difficult to spray and tend even pruned & staked plants. More than 4 1/2' would be better, but given my layout, that's what works for me for now. Eventually, I'd like to space the plants a minimum of 3' apart but preferably 4'...someday.

kath

tam91 · March 23, 2014

Hahaha Worth. Yeah, that'll happen.

Hmmm could sneak one or two more in per row, and just do 3 rows I suppose. But the 3 foot spacing seemed to work pretty well.

Decisions, decisions...

Riceloft · March 23, 2014

I'm currently growing in 4x8 raised beds and squeeze in 8 indeterminate in one bed. Yeah, it becomes a jungle, but I had no issues with production and it lets me have more variety. I also put rows of 6 dwarf tomatoes in the 4x8 beds and that spacing works out very well too.

tam91 · March 23, 2014

lol I am trying to avoid the jungle feature - as 40 plants as a jungle is a bit much to fight with.

Sodak · March 23, 2014

I have 4X4 beds and did 4 plants in each last year. Going to go with just three this year to avoid the late August jungle.

madddawg · March 23, 2014

Last year I planted my Better Boys 5 ft x 3 ft , and Still had one heck of jungle. Most likely because I gave up on suckering...

tam91 · March 23, 2014

I don't prune anything, but the Florida weave contains them fairly well.

I am leaning strongly towards keeping my 3' plant spacing. Thinking the 4' row spacing isn't toooo bad...

marc_groleau · March 23, 2014

I grow mine 30" X 30". I keep them well staked and tied and have no problem.
I use sort a modified florida weave. Keeps em pretty tight.

nnjjohn · March 23, 2014

Marc nice garden,, I was going to mention.. everybody so far with the exception of me and Mark , mentioned spacing but, are you adding the extra vertical spacing one gets by caging or staking your plants? I ask because farmers some just let the vines grow on a hill like a twisted jungle of vines. I think if pruning the suckers and lower stems as Kath mentioned is a great idea for making the most of a tomato garden. . I want to try growing as many variety and enough to taste the difference in my small beds .. probably end up with three dozen tomato plants in all . lol.. more than can ever consume

March 22, 2014	#1
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Row spacing Decisions, decisions. Of course, I always want to grow more and more varieties, but I also want the plants nice and healthy. I'm trying to decide how many tomatoes to put in my space. I use the florida weave. Rows run north to south. Bean trellis is on the east side. other 3 sides are completely unobstructed. 2 years ago I grew my tomatoes 3 feet apart, 5 feet between rows. Had tons of tomatoes. Last year, 3 feet apart, 4 feet between rows. It seemed ok last year (but it wasn't a great year). So I don't know if that was too close or just the year. From the bean trellis to the edge of the garden I have 18 feet. Each row will be approx. 30 feet long. So my decision is between: 40 plants - 4 rows spaced approx. 4 feet apart, 10 plants each 30 plants - 3 rows spaced over 5 feet apart, 10 plants each What do you all think? __________________ Tracy

March 22, 2014	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	I grow my rows with 6 feet center to center. In each row a plant is either 3 feet apart for indeterminates or 2 feet apart for determinates and/or dwarfs. I used to grow MUCH closer, but over the years I have come to understand the wisdom in giving yourself room to move around to take care of them, ventilation and sun for the plants, and the fact that yields don't really drop much. (even though there are fewer plants, each plant produces more usually) __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture Last edited by Redbaron; March 23, 2014 at 04:39 AM.

March 22, 2014	#3
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	With the florida weave, I did have enough room to move. And my soil is quite rich, the lovely men till in a bunch of mushroom compost for me each year. But the light and etc. certainly is an issue. It's not so much that I'm desperately needing a bigger yield, it is the desire to try more varieties But I would like a reasonable yield. __________________ Tracy

March 22, 2014	#5
nnjjohn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: northern new jersey Posts: 683	I am going to squeeze mine in and leave walking space .. i cage mine and figure 3 ft apart circle round each plant give or take a half ft.. I had no problem here in the past in my jersey soil so, I just eye ball spacing my plants. __________________ john

March 23, 2014	#8
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Hahaha Worth. Yeah, that'll happen. Hmmm could sneak one or two more in per row, and just do 3 rows I suppose. But the 3 foot spacing seemed to work pretty well. Decisions, decisions... __________________ Tracy

March 22, 2014	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I would go with the 40-4 just because you want to try more varieties. At some point you will have to pick your favorites and never try anything new again, ever for the rest of your life. Worth

March 22, 2014	#7
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I've settled on 4 1/2' centers for rows and can get away with 30" spacing between plants/stakes because I prune the plants to a max of 2-3 vines. I read that tomatoes need 2 1/2 sq. ft. per plant. I've spaced rows closer in the past but found it difficult to spray and tend even pruned & staked plants. More than 4 1/2' would be better, but given my layout, that's what works for me for now. Eventually, I'd like to space the plants a minimum of 3' apart but preferably 4'...someday. kath

March 23, 2014	#9
Riceloft Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Parma, Ohio (6a) Posts: 299	I'm currently growing in 4x8 raised beds and squeeze in 8 indeterminate in one bed. Yeah, it becomes a jungle, but I had no issues with production and it lets me have more variety. I also put rows of 6 dwarf tomatoes in the 4x8 beds and that spacing works out very well too.

March 23, 2014	#11
Sodak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: 5a SD Posts: 253	I have 4X4 beds and did 4 plants in each last year. Going to go with just three this year to avoid the late August jungle. __________________ Fight the good fight, finish the course and keep the faith Last edited by Sodak; March 23, 2014 at 02:29 PM. Reason: Spelling

March 23, 2014	#12
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	Last year I planted my Better Boys 5 ft x 3 ft , and Still had one heck of jungle. Most likely because I gave up on suckering... __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

March 23, 2014	#14
marc_groleau Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 444	I grow mine 30" X 30". I keep them well staked and tied and have no problem. I use sort a modified florida weave. Keeps em pretty tight. Last edited by marc_groleau; March 23, 2014 at 08:29 PM.