wispy tomato spacing

[habitat_gardener]

How close together do you grow wispy-foliaged tomatoes? I looked at my list of seedlings this year and realized I have a bunch that are described as wispy: Anna Russian, Purple Russian, Russian 117, Opalka, Prue. Would it make more sense to grow these two to a cage (either two of the same, or two different ones), or just space them closer together? I have a lot more seedlings than space this year, so I'm still figuring out which ones to give away and which ones to plant.

[Polar_Lace]

I think it depends on the type of cages you're using, but I think two per cage is pretty fair reasoning.

If you're using the bigger cages like these here then you could put three to a cage. (I've placed up to four in one, nearer to the edges without problems; when I've run out of space. They were the same variety of course.) Small garden, big wishes. I also fed enough for all four at the same time too. Grow bags are different because of limited root space.

Just my $0.02 worth.

~* Robin

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by habitat_gardener

How close together do you grow wispy-foliaged tomatoes? I looked at my list of seedlings this year and realized I have a bunch that are described as wispy: Anna Russian, Purple Russian, Russian 117, Opalka, Prue. Would it make more sense to grow these two to a cage (either two of the same, or two different ones), or just space them closer together? I have a lot more seedlings than space this year, so I'm still figuring out which ones to give away and which ones to plant.

I don't consider Opalka to have wispy foliage and while some say they see Prue as having wispy foliage, I never have and I introduced both of those varieties. Nor do I see Russian #117 as having wispy foliage.

I di distinguish betwen varieties that have sparse foliage and those that have wispy, droopy foliage as being different.

However, I don't think I feel comfortable equating foliage type with root structure and extent and if you plant any varieties too close together there will be root competition for water and nutrients.

Sooooo, if it were me I wouldn't plant two to a cage and nor would I plant them closer together.

[tjg911]

i started to grow prue last season 2 to a cage and it worked fine. my crw cages are 22" in diameter iirc. 1 prue in a cage could go into an 18" cage i use for tall peppers.

tom

[TZ-OH6]

My caged Anna Russians get as big and full as everything else.

[habitat_gardener]

Duh...I've grown Opalka twice before and recall it was never wispy for me, but dense and a little droopy.

TZ, that's interesting. The master gardeners have an annual tomato seedling sale, and one year they said Anna Russian does not get over 4 ft. high and is very wispy!

tjg, I recall reading that you grew 2 Prue per cage and I think that's where I got the idea I could double up on other varieties. (Oh, also the local master gardeners say that you can plant 2 of any variety per cage if you want to try more varieties but have limited space. They claim the yield per cage stays the same.)

I finally planted my Purple Russian seedlings yesterday. They were about 4-6 inches high but with very thin stems, and I broke one while potting up, so I did put 2 in one cage rather than try to pry the two most vigorous ones apart.

[tjg911]

Originally Posted by habitat_gardener

tjg, I recall reading that you grew 2 Prue per cage and I think that's where I got the idea I could double up on other varieties. (Oh, also the local master gardeners say that you can plant 2 of any variety per cage if you want to try more varieties but have limited space. They claim the yield per cage stays the same.)

prue yes but ANY variety? NO WAY! i've grown some tomatoes that barely fit int the cage! i'd only do it with very spare plants such as prue and i do not know of any other tomato as sparse as prue is but i'm sure there are some.

tom

[carolyn137]

As many of you know Tom was the originator of the variety Prue and he sent me seeds for it and I told him I'd try to get it more widely distributed after he asked if I could do so, which I did, which is why I said I introduced it.

I didn't want to tqke anything away from Tom in terms of his family heirloom which is why I'm posting this/

I listed it in the SSE YEarbooks for several years so folks got seeds that way, I offered it in a couple of seed offers here so folks got seeds that way and I sent it to Sandhill and Glenn listed it and I sent it to Linda at TGS but when I asked about it recently she said, well Tom, I told you but I can't remember exactly what she said but she said she had to grow it again. Apparently it was overlooked about the time her husband Vince passed away.

[scottfsmith]

I stuck a Prue and a Wes together when I planted out yesterday. This is my first year for Wes but it looked pretty sparse as a babe.

I am really looking forward to Prue again after skipping it last year. Based on how much I missed it, it will probably not be dropped again.

Scott

[Ruth_10]

I stuck a Prue and a Wes together when I planted out yesterday.

I could see two Prue in a large cage, but Prue and Wes might be pushing it, IMO. For me, Wes was a huge plant at maturity.

Prue is on my permanent list, too. Great tomato. Thanks for sharing it, Tom.

[tjg911]

i agree with ruth, in my experience wes is not a sparse plant and wes will fill my crw cage. wes and prue, to me, are the 2 best tasting tomatoes tho i have several other favorites. i'm trying 6 new hearts this year and hope to add more favorites to my list!

thanks for the update carolyn, hopefully linda can consider prue in the future. my main goal was to get it out there so people can enjoy it and that has been accomplished for which i am very happy.

and carolyn i read your "i introduced" comment but i undertood what you meant and i was not concerned by the phrasing. i appreciate all the interest and help with prue from you!

tom

[kygreg]

tjg911

which new hearts are you trying this year?

[tjg911]

Linnie's Oxheart, Monomakh's Hat, Nicky Crain, Reif Red Heart,
Tsar Koloko, that's 5, i was trying 6 new varieties and said 6 hearts by mistake. 2 varieties are from you kygreg but i'd have to check the packets to know which ones.


tom

[kygreg]

I grew Reif Red Heart last year and it was excellent with great production. Am trying Linnie's Oxheart this year along with Belarusian Heart, Butter and Bull's Heart, and a couple of more I can't remember now. I had forgotten we did a trade, but I have it on my trade tracker. Hope they do well for you.