Offset spacings in beds - Page 2

feldon30 · April 6, 2008

I guess I will reduce the number of tomatoes in my beds IF they produce more. Last year I got less than 10 tomatoes off 2/3 of my plants.

DonnaK-NC · April 6, 2008

I have played around with this for about 6 yrs in my current beds. They are all 4' x 12'. Staggered, 7 per bed, has been the best for the last couple of years. I want to put more, but this seems to help airflow between the plants, especially when the heat sets in. I have a 20' x 30' area for corn that I sometimes put extra tomato plants in. They are spaced 5' ft apart there and they do a lot better than the beds so I am guessing they will grow in less room but show appreciation for the extra space.

Hilde · April 6, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by feldon30

I guess I will reduce the number of tomatoes in my beds IF they produce more. Last year I got less than 10 tomatoes off 2/3 of my plants.

Do you keep track of the tomatoes you harvest from every plant? Do you use a spread sheet or something? I like the idea of keeping track like that.

feldon30 · April 7, 2008

Last year I kept that level of detailed numbers. Mostly fruitset numbers in April.

I guess this year I will try to keep the same level of detail if I can.

TomatoDon · April 7, 2008

I wasn't convinced that 6 per 4X12 bed, side by side, was optimum, but I believe you all have me convinced now that 6 offset in a 4X12 is ample for good production. This thread has changed the way I will plant this year.

Thanks!

Don

April 6, 2008	#16
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	I guess I will reduce the number of tomatoes in my beds IF they produce more. Last year I got less than 10 tomatoes off 2/3 of my plants. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

April 7, 2008	#19
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Last year I kept that level of detailed numbers. Mostly fruitset numbers in April. I guess this year I will try to keep the same level of detail if I can. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

April 7, 2008	#20
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I wasn't convinced that 6 per 4X12 bed, side by side, was optimum, but I believe you all have me convinced now that 6 offset in a 4X12 is ample for good production. This thread has changed the way I will plant this year. Thanks! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

April 6, 2008	#17
DonnaK-NC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salisbury, NC Zone 7 Posts: 24	I have played around with this for about 6 yrs in my current beds. They are all 4' x 12'. Staggered, 7 per bed, has been the best for the last couple of years. I want to put more, but this seems to help airflow between the plants, especially when the heat sets in. I have a 20' x 30' area for corn that I sometimes put extra tomato plants in. They are spaced 5' ft apart there and they do a lot better than the beds so I am guessing they will grow in less room but show appreciation for the extra space.