Tomatoes near Sidewalk

crazyoldgooseman · January 15, 2015

I like to grow a few cherry tomatoes right near the back door for ease of snacking. I grew them in pots last year and watering was a bit of an issue and they just did not do as well as my in ground toms so this year I was going to put them in the same spot but in the ground between 2 sidewalks. (we have a crazy old house with a lot of odd sidewalks from previous add ons) Is there anything I should watch out for such as lime leaching from the concrete? I was going to amend the soil with my usual compost manure and leaves. Thanks for your thoughts.

daninpd · January 15, 2015

I think the old advice of "Dig a two dollar hole for a fifty-cent tree" applies. Dig deep and create a new growing environment in that hole. Horse manure is my solution, but I own horses. I just put a lot of manure deep, cover with good soil and compost and then plant.

Cole_Robbie · January 15, 2015

I think you'll be fine. I had a nice hedge of tomato plants down my sidewalk late last summer. They were there because I dumped my slop bucket of tomatoes from farmers market in the hostas by the sidewalk. It was too late in the summer for them to produce, plus the spot was mostly shaded, but the plants were all very pretty and healthy-looking.

ScottinAtlanta · January 15, 2015

I also think it will be fine. The ground might be a little warmer due to the heat sink of the concrete slabs nearby, so the eggplants and peppers might actually do better, while tomatoes will not mind.

Tormato · January 15, 2015

Around here, and not around here (down under), they grow up through the cracks in the sidewalk.

I think you'll be fine.

**carolyn137** · January 15, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

Around here, and not around here (down under), they grow up through the cracks in the sidewalk.

I think you'll be fine.

Agree, and there was a lady in either Australia or New Zealand who found a plant growing, blossoming and setting fruits in the tiny space between adjoining slabs of sidewalk, she named it, I can't remember the name she gave it and seeds were sent to lots of folks, figuring if a tomato plant could take that much heat and water stress it would do well anywhere.

I do remember that had small red fruits.

I thought I'd check Google, didn't find the one from down under, but plenty of reports about sidewalk tomatoes.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...ng+on+sidewalk

Carolyn

Worth1 · January 16, 2015

Carolyn it was called the crack tomato if my memory serves me correctly.
Pictures and everything where she dug it up and moved it home.

Worth

salix · January 16, 2015

I remember it was Tessa, from Perth...

Tormato · January 16, 2015

www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=16104

**carolyn137** · January 16, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by salix

I remember it was Tessa, from Perth...

You and Gary are superb at remembering it was Tess.

Well, I did have my memory button when I said it was a lady from either Australia or New Zealand, so don't I get a passing grade as well?

Carolyn

crazyoldgooseman · January 16, 2015

Thanks for the opinions etc. Now I wait for spring.

Tormato · January 17, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

You and Gary are superb at remembering it was Tess.

Well, I did have my memory button when I said it was a lady from either Australia or New Zealand, so don't I get a passing grade as well?

Carolyn

Remembering it was Tessa? Well, no.

What I remember was Dar saying not to make any wiseCracks about the name.
And, there was NO WAY I could resist.

January 15, 2015	#1
crazyoldgooseman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southern Maryland 7a Posts: 200	Tomatoes near Sidewalk I like to grow a few cherry tomatoes right near the back door for ease of snacking. I grew them in pots last year and watering was a bit of an issue and they just did not do as well as my in ground toms so this year I was going to put them in the same spot but in the ground between 2 sidewalks. (we have a crazy old house with a lot of odd sidewalks from previous add ons) Is there anything I should watch out for such as lime leaching from the concrete? I was going to amend the soil with my usual compost manure and leaves. Thanks for your thoughts. __________________ Anybody see where I sat my beer? -crazyoldgooseman

January 15, 2015	#2
daninpd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Prunedale, CA Posts: 134	I think the old advice of "Dig a two dollar hole for a fifty-cent tree" applies. Dig deep and create a new growing environment in that hole. Horse manure is my solution, but I own horses. I just put a lot of manure deep, cover with good soil and compost and then plant. __________________ I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left. Last edited by daninpd; January 15, 2015 at 03:01 AM.

January 16, 2015	#8
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	I remember it was Tessa, from Perth... __________________ "He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." -Cicero

January 16, 2015	#11
crazyoldgooseman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southern Maryland 7a Posts: 200	Thanks for the opinions etc. Now I wait for spring. __________________ Anybody see where I sat my beer? -crazyoldgooseman

January 15, 2015	#3
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I think you'll be fine. I had a nice hedge of tomato plants down my sidewalk late last summer. They were there because I dumped my slop bucket of tomatoes from farmers market in the hostas by the sidewalk. It was too late in the summer for them to produce, plus the spot was mostly shaded, but the plants were all very pretty and healthy-looking.

January 15, 2015	#4
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	I also think it will be fine. The ground might be a little warmer due to the heat sink of the concrete slabs nearby, so the eggplants and peppers might actually do better, while tomatoes will not mind.

January 15, 2015	#5
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Around here, and not around here (down under), they grow up through the cracks in the sidewalk. I think you'll be fine.

January 16, 2015	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Carolyn it was called the crack tomato if my memory serves me correctly. Pictures and everything where she dug it up and moved it home. Worth