Variety/companion garden question

[dice]

Super Beefsteak:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/118357/

Big Boy:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/98037/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31299/

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by nnjjohn

I am wondering now if I should grow a variety of tomatoes instead a dozen of "burpee" big boys and a dozen of "burpee" super beef steaks?

Well I would certainly recommend growing some other varieties besides the two you mentioned, but I'm an admitted tomato snob and want to grow the best-tasting tomatoes I can.

Originally Posted by nnjjohn

I am going to home depot today to see about getting Sungolds cherry seedlings and potting mixes for my pots..

I don't suppose you have access to any local nurseries? The great thing about Houston is, there are a half dozen mom&pop local nurseries that have over 50 varieties, a couple have over 100 different types.

In your part of NJ there's Country Mile Gardens, not to mention ChilePlants.com is in New Jersey. That's certainly worth the drive as they have 100+ tomato varieties and hundreds of chile pepper varieties. As with all mail order companies that also have a physical store, you may want to order ahead and hold for pickup or call them ahead to see what they have in-stock.

Originally Posted by nnjjohn

is there a forum here how to get the most variety of tomatoes in small residential around the house gardens? I usually grow in total about fourty plants.. should I consider planting more varirty ? Like perhaps half a dozen of each kind? Are all tomatoes good companions

When I was gardening in Houston, I was growing 35 tomato plants, and of that, I was typically growing about 20 different varieties. I didn't grow more than 3 of any one variety.

There are over 8,000 distinct tomato varieties. I just can't limit myself to what they've got at Home Depot when there are so many choices. Also, the seedlings at HD are from Bonnie's which have had problems in the past with tomato diseases. This may have been resolved in their 2013 plants, but I think if you can buy local, and get better variety, I'd shop around.

Originally Posted by nnjjohn

also, are cucumbers and swisschard and basil okay for companion in a tomato garden? tia , John

I'm not really a believer in companion planting but you can grow cucumbers and swiss chard in the same bed no problem as tomatoes with no problem as they are all from different plant families. Just make sure that you take the angle of the sun into account so that your tomatoes and cukes don't shade the chard.

[nnjjohn]

I guess the reason I'm asking is last few seasons, I tried only two varity from a local nursery the Rutgers and Ramapo plants from flats.. I figured they were recommended for new jersey region, I will likely grow a few of each too this season as with several other recommended for this region,, thank you for answering my questions

[feldon30]

Rutgers and Ramapo are definitely popular in NJ.

I guess my issue is, I don't get that excited about round red tomatoes. I like large pink and purple beefsteaks, cherries of all colors, etc.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by feldon30

I'm not really a believer in companion planting but you can grow cucumbers and swiss chard in the same bed no problem as tomatoes with no problem as they are all from different plant families. Just make sure that you take the angle of the sun into account so that your tomatoes and cukes don't shade the chard.

I am a believer in companion planting. And Cukes don't go with tomatoes. Maybe the reason you are not a believer in companion planting is due to not knowing things like that?

[Riceloft]

Is there a particular reason? I've had cucumbers planted within 2 feet of tomato plants each of the last 3 seasons. Other then Cucumber beetles, neither seems to have suffered.

[nnjjohn]

I already learned from someone on this site (forget who recommended it) but yes.. the cucumbers are going on raised mounds on top of the lawn just behind my gardens perimeter outside the deer fencing .. I do not use lawn products like weed and feed anyway on the hill behind my gardens or anywhere on my lawns for that matter. Tried that perfect lawn baloney a long time ago.. I just lime and use pellet lawn fertilizer but very early spring for certain areas away from my gardens. Too shaded otherwise once the tree leaves set in. Not big on too many cucumbers either. Swiss chard I never tried growing, my neighbor cooked me some of his garden chard and that is why I want to try growing som this year first time.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Riceloft

Is there a particular reason? I've had cucumbers planted within 2 feet of tomato plants each of the last 3 seasons. Other then Cucumber beetles, neither seems to have suffered.

They are antagonistic plants. To be honest the real antagonists are cukes and potatoes. So in some cases tomatoes can get along with cukes. Not sure 100% why the difference between potatoes which are very antagonistic and tomatoes which are only slightly antagonistic (and sometimes in rare cases actually beneficial). You would think tomatoes and potatoes would always have similar companions since they are so closely related. But as it turns out, in the case of cukes, it varies somewhat.

Probably it has to do with something in the soil.



PS For beetles try radish in the cuke hills

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

I am a believer in companion planting. And Cukes don't go with tomatoes. Maybe the reason you are not a believer in companion planting is due to not knowing things like that?

No, I'm not a believer in companion planting because there has not been any scientific research to support it.

The go-to companion planting book is "Carrots Love Tomatoes". Um, what? Carrots cannot possibly benefit from being grown near tomatoes. They like different soil. They like different nutrients. They grow at different times of year (in Texas, their growing seasons do not overlap at all!) Carrots are ground plants that would struggle to get sunlight when grown side-by-side with 8 foot tall tomato plants.

To use your example, Arizona State University describes Cucumbers as a Companion to Tomatoes. Google searches reveal numerous conflicts like this when comparing one Companion Planting List to another. Why? Because there has been no testing or research.

If there is some empirical evidence that companion planting improves plant growth, disease management, and harvest quality, and if you have a Companion Planting Varieties list which has undergone some scrutiny, by all means please link it.

[nnjjohn]

I have a bed that only gets late morning and pm sun.. which of the three or should I try them all but apart from one another like a few chard a tomato plant and repeat that for a 30 x4 side the house bed? btw, No lead paint or concerns on my house,, so far, only thinking to grow tomatoes/swiss chard/ and a few cucumbers.. butthe cucs I will do on the sunny hill in the back by them selves.. I do have animals to contend with,, groundhogs rabbits chipmuncks and deer.. my fencing seems to do the trick for the most part. (not worried much about the cucumbers.. but the tomato plants and chard need fencing tia, john..

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by feldon30

No, I'm not a believer in companion planting because there has not been any scientific research to support it.

The go-to companion planting book is "Carrots Love Tomatoes". Um, what? Carrots cannot possibly benefit from being grown near tomatoes. They like different soil. They like different nutrients. They grow at different times of year (in Texas, their growing seasons do not overlap at all!) Carrots are ground plants that would struggle to get sunlight when grown side-by-side with 8 foot tall tomato plants.

To use your example, Arizona State University describes Cucumbers as a Companion to Tomatoes. Do a little Google searching and you find numerous conflicts like this between one list and another. Why? Because there has been no testing or research.
If there is some actual empirical evidence that companion planting improves plant growth, disease management, and harvest quality, and if you have a scientifically-tested Plant Companion list, please link it.

I'm not a believer in companion planting either.

When Louise Riottes book Carrots Love Tomatoes first came out I said what the heck and tried someof the suggestions.I planted att least two of the same variety without the companion plant, the control plants, and two of the same variety far from the first two with the companion plant. And donein the same season.

I never saw any difference sodidit again the next year witha few varieties.

So many times it's been said that basil planted near tomato plants increases the flavor . So how can tha thappen, b'c anything exuded thru the roots of the BAsil roots have to travel thru the soil to be taken up by the tomato roots?

I don't think so. There are plenty of microbes in soil that produce enzymes, I used to teach soil Microbiology that breakdown lots of stuff via enzymes, and can do it to large compounds as well. And if broken downto constiuent parts where it might be adsorbed by tomato roots it would be no different than uptake of fertilizers o fmany kinds that are used.

The only wayI can see any companion have a beneficial effect on any nearby tomato plant, well, what I was going to suggest would not really work, so I'll back off on that idea.

Carolyn

[nnjjohn]

Scarey reminiscent about planting,, Last three seaons I been implementing horse stable mix from a local stable thinking at that time the stuff was gold for my garden,, man did I f UP ,, anyway the plants I bought each season and every season they all struggled but eventually produced small but minimal fruit.. But here is why I know something is wrong in those beds I used the local stable horse manure mix.. EVEN THE BASIL STRUGGLED!! I sure hope my regional weather and original soil drainage can fix it this season.. I'm doing my own potting tests right now using this sh=t with the seedlings .. I have most in quality potting mix cups.. just wish it was easier to idenity what it is,, i'm also in shadey lane as far as my lanscape goes even in summer but, I remember growing here many years before the stable crap mix.. never again if this season suks lol

[TightenUp]

start a compost pile using the stable mix and some leaves, food scraps, coffee grounds and grass clippings. you will have black gold. just need the hardwood to break down.

i have used craigslist to find rabbit breeders. one guy charged for the manure and another lady asked for whatever i would donate. anyway i added lots of leaves and grass clippings and now i have some rubbermaids filled with awesome black gold for this season and a pile of the newer stuff about halfway broken down that will be great for either mid season side dressing or next season.

[TightenUp]

also keep in mind ramapo and rutgers arent the largest tomatoes on the market. did you weigh any of the ones you got?

redbarron can comment on the size of the rutgers tomato better than i can but i dont think theyre very big and almost positive they stay under a pound and closer to 8 oz

[nnjjohn]

Originally Posted by TightenUp

also keep in mind ramapo and rutgers arent the largest tomatoes on the market. did you weigh any of the ones you got?

redbarron can comment on the size of the rutgers tomato better than i can but i dont think theyre very big and almost positive they stay under a pound and closer to 8 oz

Tight, believe me, at age 51,