Support Questions

AlittleSalt · January 7, 2016

I've talked it over with my wife, and we are thinking of using this system for growing our tomatoes on https://www.google.com/search?q=Toma...y0CZyij-JVM%3A

This is in a 45'x45' garden.

What we are thinking is that with our drip irrigation system emitters being spaced 18" apart - we could grow pruned tomato plants 18" apart in the row. Is that possible?

If so, how far apart should the rows be? We're trying to save some space and grow more tomatoes.

Pruning and growing tomato plants this way is something new to us, so any info would be much appreciated.

Worth1 · January 7, 2016

Salt with the drip system at 18 inch spacing you can grow the tomatoes any distance apart you want.

Pruned as you are thinking about I wouldn't go any closer than 24 inches.
The water is going to go down hit the clay and spread out in a circle and your plants will find the water.
If done correctly you should have a continuous row of wet soil and not have to worry about spacing at all.

Worth

AlittleSalt · January 7, 2016

That is something I didn't think about Worth. There is an area in the garden where the clay is only 12" under the loam. I like that idea, and I've read that pruned tomato plants can be planted 2' apart.

Cole_Robbie · January 7, 2016

You can bonsai an indeterminate into doing whatever you want. As far as good production in a small space, my opinion is that the quality of your soil is very important. I noticed huge gains with smaller root systems when I started improving my soil.

If you're growing any determinates, I don't think they will co-operate with that spacing very well. I think it's hard to keep them from bushing out. And once again, that problem gets worse with the "problem" of really good soil, as does the efforts required to trellis and prune in general.

Also, I think some indeterminates lend themselves a little better to strict pruning than others. Fred's Artisan cherries are one example. At early growth stages, they look like bushy determinates. I am not a strict pruner, but they look like they would be more of a challenge to contain.

AlittleSalt · January 7, 2016

I should have added that they are all indeterminate plants.

Worth1 · January 7, 2016

I hate pruning but I have so many plants this year I am going to experiment with it on the Orange Russian just so I can cram more plants in a certain area.

Worth

January 7, 2016	#1
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Support Questions I've talked it over with my wife, and we are thinking of using this system for growing our tomatoes on https://www.google.com/search?q=Toma...y0CZyij-JVM%3A This is in a 45'x45' garden. What we are thinking is that with our drip irrigation system emitters being spaced 18" apart - we could grow pruned tomato plants 18" apart in the row. Is that possible? If so, how far apart should the rows be? We're trying to save some space and grow more tomatoes. Pruning and growing tomato plants this way is something new to us, so any info would be much appreciated.

January 7, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Salt with the drip system at 18 inch spacing you can grow the tomatoes any distance apart you want. Pruned as you are thinking about I wouldn't go any closer than 24 inches. The water is going to go down hit the clay and spread out in a circle and your plants will find the water. If done correctly you should have a continuous row of wet soil and not have to worry about spacing at all. Worth

January 7, 2016	#4
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	You can bonsai an indeterminate into doing whatever you want. As far as good production in a small space, my opinion is that the quality of your soil is very important. I noticed huge gains with smaller root systems when I started improving my soil. If you're growing any determinates, I don't think they will co-operate with that spacing very well. I think it's hard to keep them from bushing out. And once again, that problem gets worse with the "problem" of really good soil, as does the efforts required to trellis and prune in general. Also, I think some indeterminates lend themselves a little better to strict pruning than others. Fred's Artisan cherries are one example. At early growth stages, they look like bushy determinates. I am not a strict pruner, but they look like they would be more of a challenge to contain.