Planting in Circles

[Keiththibodeaux]

Has anyone ever planted in large circular beds before?

Just for a change this year, I was thinking of some large circular beds, each with tomatoes along the circumference. Maybe one with sprawling crops in the center like Melons. Another perhaps with corn in the center. Or even the opposite one with 4 tomatoes in the center then radiating out smaller and smaller plants.

Just random thoughts at this point, but I would love to hear other peoples ideas and thoughts on the matter.

[Worth1]

Salix called my raised beds the great Texas wood henge.

So I have been thinking along these same lines.

Mine would be so you could get in the middle of the circle though.

You might think about a pyramid or cone shape with steps going up.

Your wife or friends could gather the fruit while you sit at the top and give them to you as offerings.

Worth

[salix]

Unless it was a very large circular bed, putting tomatoes on the circumference would probably necessitate shade lovers in the centre. Don't forget to allow room for paths. Check out Google for "keyhole gardens". At first, I thought you might be referring to the practice of burying a large amount of compost/compostable materials and planting tomatoes around the periphery - apparently that works quite well.

[salix]

Worth, you posted while I was still composing. I have done a small, slightly raised strawberry bed planted in a spiral with a path to the top. Worked fine, but next time I would arrange a watering system in the scheme.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by salix

Worth, you posted while I was still composing. I have done a small, slightly raised strawberry bed planted in a spiral with a path to the top. Worked fine, but next time I would arrange a watering system in the scheme.

I always wanted my own Mayan stepped Pyramid.

Worth

[kath]

I had one of those 3-tiered strawberry planters years ago that was a circle with about a 6' diameter but I guess that doesn't count.

Actually this year I'm planting watermelons one giant "hill" that was made last fall of layers of compost materials. I'm thinking of sinking a leaky 5 gal. bucket in the center of the hill for watering and fertilizing, and I'm pretty sure the vines will grow outward in all directions in a circle. But it's in the center of a square section (20'x20') of the garden, though, so that probably doesn't count either. Especially since early in the season there will be brassicas and other plants all around the edges of the square.

[Keiththibodeaux]

Originally Posted by salix

Unless it was a very large circular bed, putting tomatoes on the circumference would probably necessitate shade lovers in the centre. Don't forget to allow room for paths. Check out Google for "keyhole gardens". At first, I thought you might be referring to the practice of burying a large amount of compost/compostable materials and planting tomatoes around the periphery - apparently that works quite well.

I am talking fairly large in circumference, but down here even the full sun plants are looking for shade come mid June. Actually that could be yet another influence on the center plantings.

[peebee]

Last year hubby constructed a large circular bed with a small stone path cut thru the middle, halfway only. It worked great for me cuz not only was I able to access the tomatoes I had planted all around the outside perimeter, I was also able to easily reach all the ones in the "inside perimeter" if that's what you call it, that were planted along the inside of the stone path. It really maximized the planting space by not putting the path straight thru.
I was pretty impressed with how he thought it out, non-gardener that he is.

[Keiththibodeaux]

Originally Posted by peebee

Last year hubby constructed a large circular bed with a small stone path cut thru the middle, halfway only. It worked great for me cuz not only was I able to access the tomatoes I had planted all around the outside perimeter, I was also able to easily reach all the ones in the "inside perimeter" if that's what you call it, that were planted along the inside of the stone path. It really maximized the planting space by not putting the path straight thru.
I was pretty impressed with how he thought it out, non-gardener that he is.

I thought about various walkways as well, even maybe a round table right in the middle. Now that would be a cool place to have a tomato tasting, just reach back, grab one and put it on the table.

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by Keiththibodeaux

Has anyone ever planted in large circular beds before?

Just for a change this year, I was thinking of some large circular beds, each with tomatoes along the circumference. Maybe one with sprawling crops in the center like Melons. Another perhaps with corn in the center. Or even the opposite one with 4 tomatoes in the center then radiating out smaller and smaller plants.

Just random thoughts at this point, but I would love to hear other peoples ideas and thoughts on the matter.

If aesthetics is an interest. Consider placing the tallest plants in the center, shorter plants to the outside. Throw in a flowering plant here or there for color and to attract pollinators. A circle of tall tomato plants might cast too much shade for optimal production if you put melons in the center unless the circle was quite large in which case it wouldn't be an issue.

[frankkj]

I once planted tomatoes around the outside of a 10 foot diameter compost pile. Had 4' wire to contain the pile and tie the stakes to. Didn't work very well. All leaves and few fruit.

Wasn't grown to please the eye, but rather please the stomach.

Ah well....
Frank

[dustdevil]

Don't do it...flying saucers might mistake your circular bed for a landing pad

[Keiththibodeaux]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Don't do it...flying saucers might mistake your circular bed for a landing pad

No problem. The tomatoes are only a cover anyway. I am just trying to phone home.

[Ken4230]

I have used tractor tires to plant early tomatoes around the outside edge with potatoes or melons planted in the middle. It has always worked out pretty well for me. I cut the top sidewall out and leave the bottom one in to act as a water reservoir. Since I have retired and moved to the lake, there's no more ugly (according to the wife) raised beds for me.