Growing vine crops in a 2'x4' box

vinny09 4/1/2011, 1:42 pm

If I had a 4'x4' box, is it possible to grow vine plants (eg tomatoes) in 8 neighboring squares of the 4'x4' (ie use 2'x4' just for tomatoes)? I believe the theory of the wagon trellis sold last year (but don't see it in the store this year) was to maximize the growth of vine plants in all 8 squares of a 2'x4' box. Anyway, if I attempted this, would you recommend orienting the box north/south so that one side gets am sun and the other pm sun, or would keeping the box oriented east/west be okay since the plants are "pulled" away from each other, thereby minimizing shading? I actually don't have the wagon trellis, but was thinking 1) if north/south orientation, I am okay to just trellis the edge plants and cage/stake the inside plants (or simply cage/stake all 8, but I do have trellises available) or 2) if east/west, bend my trellis out (similar to the wagon trellis) for the edge plants and cage/stake the inside plants. Thanks!

dizzygardener 4/7/2011, 5:27 pm

I'd be inclined to leave it oriented north south and plant lettuce or other cool season crops in the third row with beans or some other warm season crop in the 4th row.

I'd be concerned about too much shading with the east west orientation.

Best of luck and happy gardening!

acara 4/7/2011, 6:01 pm

If your doing indeterminate (vining tomatoes), either way will work.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the box orientation if your box is open on 4 sides .... the tom's will self-correct along the trellis in most cases. You just need to do a little trimming to compensate for their growth pattern.

I usually have the best luck when I start the toms on a stake and then train them up to the trellis.

I think this is what your trying to do (back two rows are tomatoes, front two rows are peppers)? It's kinda hard to see in the pics, but there is a full row trellis on row 3 too.

Growing vine crops in a 2'x4' box 102_2860

Growing vine crops in a 2'x4' box 102_2860

Growing vine crops in a 2'x4' box 102_2861

Growing vine crops in a 2'x4' box 102_2863

Growing vine crops in a 2'x4' box 102_2862

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