This year, we're trying a new approach to growing tomatoes.
The last few years, I was diligent about using the single vine method and truncating the vine to produce more fruit. It still turned into a bit of a bushy mess that was hard to access tomatoes.
I also wanted to maximize and intensify our tomato growing capability in our small space. For reference, this year, I am giving each tomato 1 square foot. Last year, each had 2.25 square feet (a 1.5 foot square). We had only eight tomato plants last year, where this year we have fourteen. This method also helps free up space for other vegetables, since we're trying to grow more of our own produce this year. Producing more intensively means more fertilizer throughout the season. We put the tomatoes at the far north side of each of the three beds so the tomatoes aren't competing with the other plants for light and to make harvesting easy later this summer.
Back to the new method: I put up a trellis made of conduit, attached cord for each plant from the upper support and attached to a stake near the root base of each plant.
As the plant grows, I will train the vine to grow up the cord and eventually cut the vine to stop growing and convert its energy into fruit.
Fingers crossed that this works...
Also, the lettuce is starting to come in and looks great. Can't wait for delicious salads and sandwiches:
The last few years, I was diligent about using the single vine method and truncating the vine to produce more fruit. It still turned into a bit of a bushy mess that was hard to access tomatoes.
I also wanted to maximize and intensify our tomato growing capability in our small space. For reference, this year, I am giving each tomato 1 square foot. Last year, each had 2.25 square feet (a 1.5 foot square). We had only eight tomato plants last year, where this year we have fourteen. This method also helps free up space for other vegetables, since we're trying to grow more of our own produce this year. Producing more intensively means more fertilizer throughout the season. We put the tomatoes at the far north side of each of the three beds so the tomatoes aren't competing with the other plants for light and to make harvesting easy later this summer.
Back to the new method: I put up a trellis made of conduit, attached cord for each plant from the upper support and attached to a stake near the root base of each plant.
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| New support approach. Also, the junipers still look good. |
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| Starting to train the plant to the cord, using Velcro supports. Note the rusty stake. |
Fingers crossed that this works...
Also, the lettuce is starting to come in and looks great. Can't wait for delicious salads and sandwiches:
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