Spacing question

J Long 2/19/2015, 9:22 pm

One the the boxes I'm planning will be a 10'x3'. What I have read from some with regard to tomatoes is that the spacing should be more like 1.5' instead of 1'. Will the 3' dimension accommodate two indeterminate tomato plants trellised? Hope I asked that clearly enough Laughing

**Turan** 2/19/2015, 10:21 pm

In my greenhouse there are 2 beds, each one is 30"x 12ft. I plant so each tomato gets a 15" x 24" area. So there are 2 plants per every 2 foot section of the bed. I found that giving them a 15" x 18" area was adequate for growth but too hard to keep up with. Close spacing requires strict pruning in order to reach fruit etc. The little bit more space still needs pruning (I let 2 main stems develop) but is not so strict and there is room to move a plant aside to get behind it. Will you have easy access to both sides of the bed?

J Long 2/20/2015, 8:21 am

Turan wrote:In my greenhouse there are 2 beds, each one is 30"x 12ft. I plant so each tomato gets a 15" x 24" area. So there are 2 plants per every 2 foot section of the bed. I found that giving them a 15" x 18" area was adequate for growth but too hard to keep up with. Close spacing requires strict pruning in order to reach fruit etc. The little bit more space still needs pruning (I let 2 main stems develop) but is not so strict and there is room to move a plant aside to get behind it. Will you have easy access to both sides of the bed?

Turan,

No, the bed will be accessible from one side only because the the enclosure. I want to maximize space in this box for tomatoes.
Thanks

**camprn** 2/20/2015, 11:54 am

J Long wrote:
Turan wrote:In my greenhouse there are 2 beds, each one is 30"x 12ft. I plant so each tomato gets a 15" x 24" area. So there are 2 plants per every 2 foot section of the bed. I found that giving them a 15" x 18" area was adequate for growth but too hard to keep up with. Close spacing requires strict pruning in order to reach fruit etc. The little bit more space still needs pruning (I let 2 main stems develop) but is not so strict and there is room to move a plant aside to get behind it. Will you have easy access to both sides of the bed?
Turan,

No, the bed will be accessible from one side only because the the enclosure. I want to maximize space in this box for tomatoes.
Thanks

I think that if you follow Turan's model, space the plants a bit farther apart but have TWO main growing stems, this may actually maximize your tomato growing.

This will enable the roots to take in nutrients over a broader area. Remember tomato plants are very heavy feeders so, planting the seedlings on their sides will encourage more root growth and nutrient uptake = healthier plant > more fruit.

Farther spacing will enable better trellising management, pruning and good ventilation/air circulation around the plant which in turn reduces risk of disease.

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