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Thu, May 14, 09 at 12:22
| So I just planted my tomatoes this past weekend and I did them according to Mel's book but they just seem SO close! Is it really possible to grow them one per square foot? I also built the trellis the book recommends so they'll grow against that and I plan on pinching off the suckers as diligently as I need to so they'll not get too bushy, but I'm still skeptical. Anyone have any horror or success stories to share with doing it this way?
Thanks in advance! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by dan_staley USDA 5/S 2b (My Page) on Thu, May 14, 09 at 12:36
| There are numerous threads here about this issue. I personally don't grow them this close. Dan |
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| Mel's method is to prune to a single vine. I don't do that, but I effectively grow 1 per SF by placing 2 plants in 2 SF and let them grow how they will. It's a mess but I don't care. Hope that helps. |
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| I grew tomatoes on a trellis one year, one plant per one foot. It worked, but it was a lot of work constantly pruning them. The next year I started growing them one plant per two feet. There was still a lot of pruning to do, but it was noticeably easier. The link below is to a picture of my plants one per foot. |
Here is a link that might be useful: One plant per square
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- Posted by snibb Salt Lake City (jrt2020_2@msn.com) on Mon, May 18, 09 at 3:04
| And here is one per square foot-its not difficult or time consuming to pinch off suckers, and its worked for me for 9 years now. http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm14/snobblet/103_0361.jpg |
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- Posted by rj_hythloday 8A (My Page) on Tue, May 19, 09 at 9:28
| I have mine 2 per 4 ft w/ one basil a few borage and nasturtiums in between. |
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- Posted by gardener_mary 6 MA (My Page) on Sun, May 24, 09 at 16:32
| Yes, it is possible to grow indeterminate vines that you prune to 1 main stem 1/sf. Determinate (bush) tomatoes, should not be pruned so they need much more space. I grow ind. tomatoes 1/sf pruned to 1 stem and trained up a string. I don't have alot of space but want to grow as many different varieties as possible. It works well for me, I find it easier than caging or staking. Good gardening, Mary |
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- Posted by randy_coyote 7 (My Page) on Wed, May 27, 09 at 23:42
| Last year I did 1 tom/1 sf and trained them up a trellis, but the trellis was made from 1/2" PVC and 6" net. The trellis didn't fall, but did become pretty unstable, the one with my cantaloupes did fall and I had melons all over the ground. I didn't do much pruning, just removed the suckers and the odd branch that got cumbersome. I had a good mess of tomatoes last year. This year the trellises are made of 1/2" conduit and nylon netting. I'm hoping to keep it all off the ground this year. Randy |
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