Tomato spacing

dixie Mon Mar 14, 2022 2:55 pm

This is my 12th year with SFG, so I don't have Mel's newest book, but I have always planted my indeterminate tomatoes 1 per square foot. In a FB square foot garden group I was told that indeterminates were supposed to be 1 per 4 feet. I have no intention of changing my 1 per foot planting because I have amazing harvests, but I just wondered if this was a new official SFG guideline.

OhioGardener Mon Mar 14, 2022 5:41 pm

In the chart linked below, it says "1 per 4 squares (bush)". By that reference to "bush" one would assume it referring to determinate tomatoes. I grow indeterminate, and I have tomato cages that are 20" square. I put the cages next to each other and they always do very well.

https://squarefootgardening.org/planting-chart-cheat-sheets/

**sanderson** Fri Mar 18, 2022 5:12 pm

Dixie, there are several hi-jinxed SFG groups on Facebook. There is an official site and I think I know which post it was (if that was the site you saw it). I don't know if it was a typo.

Ignore it. Keep doing your successful 1' foot apart. Very Happy

dixie Fri Mar 18, 2022 7:49 pm

Hi, I've been on the official FB group, Carla Masters Laster & chatted with you.

paisley Sun Mar 20, 2022 11:29 am

In the Guide to Growing Crops section of the 1981 edition, it says:

Spacing: Bush type -- 4 plants per 4'x4' block; vine type -- 1 plant per square

Then the diagrams show 4 bush tomatoes (each in a 2'x2' square) and 4 vines in a 1'x4' row.

It's been a long time since I've actually had a square foot bed as per Mel's directions, but I do use his modular spacing within (some of) my garden.

OhioGardener Sun Mar 20, 2022 11:37 am

Paisley, note that section describes "bush type", or determinate tomatoes, and not for indeterminate tomatoes. Indeterminate tomatoes grow up, not out in a bush, and take up a lot less ground space.

**sanderson** Sun Mar 20, 2022 2:53 pm

dixie wrote:Hi, I've been on the official FB group, Carla Masters Laster & chatted with you.

The giant hibiscus grown from seed and the skinnier beds! happy hi

paisley Sun Mar 20, 2022 6:22 pm

OhioGardener wrote:Paisley, note that section describes "bush type", or determinate tomatoes, and not for indeterminate tomatoes. Indeterminate tomatoes grow up, not out in a bush, and take up a lot less ground space.

The section also mentions "vine" type. It gives two different sets of instructions, one for each type.

Frankly, I've spaced determinate tomatoes the same as indeterminate. When I first started SFG, I had indeterminate tomatoes and later had a few determinate cherries in patio pots. By the time I ever grew determinates in the ground, I'd forgotten there were different instructions. Embarassed

dixie Sun Mar 20, 2022 6:28 pm

The same for me. I've been SFG for so long, I rarely check the book. Actually, I loaned my book to my daughter. I don't do determinates so didn't really realize they had different requirements.

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