Running out of space, help!

[isuhunter]

Here is my prediciment - not enough space. I've already potted 3 into pots and the other 12 are in the garden and I have 6 more to plant. They are all 3' apart. I plan to stake each end and "weave" twine to hold them up. Can I plant them closer than 3'? If not, I'll look at tearing up some more sod.

Here is what I'm growing - BeefSteak, SuperSteak, Porterhouse, Mortgage Lifter, Pink Brandywine, Mr. Stripey, Cherokee purple, Green Zebra, Bushsteak, BigBoy, Big Rainbow, White Beauty, SuperSweet 100, Husky Cherry, Roma, Burpee Supersauce, Jersey Boy, Brandy Boy, Opalka

[feldon30]

You can plant tomatoes closer together (I am packing mine in at 26" apart in staggered rows), however you still need aisles to walk down and access your plants. From the pictures, I don't really see an aisle, so any reduction in space may require you to use a jet pack or series of ropes to reach your tomatoes.

By the way, the only reasonable answer to "Can I make the garden bigger?" is "sure!"

[PaulF]

I see a lot of useless turf needing to be tilled and planted into tomatoes.

[isuhunter]

Originally Posted by PaulF

I see a lot of useless turf needing to be tilled and planted into tomatoes.

I think thats the only option left... I didn't anticipate planting so many onions this year and they have taken over a large chunk of my garden. Same with lettuce, cabbage, beans, kohlrabi. I have moved my peppers and crowded them.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by PaulF

I see a lot of useless turf needing to be tilled and planted into tomatoes.

I'm with the useless turf idea.

Worth

[BigVanVader]

Originally Posted by PaulF

I see a lot of useless turf needing to be tilled and planted into tomatoes.

Agreed, why bother cutting grass when you could be picking tomatoes?

[Stvrob]

You could mow an area of your grass real short, and cover it with a layer of cardboard. Heap leaves on top of the cardboard, and then soak the area down well. Then just use a knife to cut a hole each transplant.

[crmauch]

Yours is the best way, but almost as good is a thick layer of grass clippings.

Originally Posted by Stvrob

You could mow an area of your grass real short, and cover it with a layer of cardboard. Heap leaves on top of the cardboard, and then soak the area down well. Then just use a knife to cut a hole each transplant.

[isuhunter]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

You could mow an area of your grass real short, and cover it with a layer of cardboard. Heap leaves on top of the cardboard, and then soak the area down well. Then just use a knife to cut a hole each transplant.

I may add onto the garden west of the onions. My wife may cringe when she sees it...

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by isuhunter

I may add onto the garden west of the onions. My wife may cringe when she sees it...

Throw some Dwarf Marigolds, nasturtiums, basil, and maybe even a sunflower or 2 in as companion plants. The flowers should make her happy.

[Stvrob]

Originally Posted by isuhunter

I may add onto the garden west of the onions. My wife may cringe when she sees it...

You have evidently uncovered the excitement in making the wife cringe. Mine rarely falls for it anymore.

For Maximum cringe effect, dont cover the cardboard with leaves at all until you've milked the cringe for all its worth.

[isuhunter]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

You have evidently uncovered the excitement in making the wife cringe. Mine rarely falls for it anymore.

For Maximum cringe effect, dont cover the cardboard with leaves at all until you've milked the cringe for all its worth.

Hahahahah...

[isuhunter]

Should I put the tomatoes to the West (left) of the onions or replant some of the items on the West and place the tomatoes with the rest east of the onions and garlic. I don't think going farther north is a good options because of shade from the maples.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by isuhunter

I may add onto the garden west of the onions. My wife may cringe when she sees it...

Seems like you have a need for stealth bed enlargement. I practice this regularly. This is how you do it.
Long Way
1. Put tarp on targeted lawn to "protect the grass"
2. Add mulch to the top of the tarp for a couple of weeks, as you "carefully mulch the garden".
3. Remove tarp...uh oh, "sick grass"...must remove to protect the lawn.
4. Immediately decorate bare earth with new plants and mulch for seamless assimilation into the garden.

Short way
1. When spouse goes out of town, immediately widen bed by two feed. Mulch the space with the exact same mulch as the rest of the garden so it all looks the same.
2. Pretend nothing has changed.

[isuhunter]

I'm going to have so many tomatoes... ugh