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  • Tomato Spacings

    Now that my new tunnel is all ready to go I have a slight quandry that some of you may have an answer to.

    The tunnel contains two raised beds 20` long by 4` wide that are half filled with really well rotted manure and topped of with 75% 15 year old manure and 25% compost. The consistency is like peat but really hangs onto moisture, which in a tunnel can only be good. As the planting medium is virgin and very rich I expect lots of leaf growth on the plants along with a bumper crop, just as I got with the same mixture in other raised beds without cover.

    Originally I envisaged planting 3 rows in each bed, 18" between rows and 2` between plants, a total of 30 plants. Am I likely to get just as good a crop by having 2 rows 3` between rows and 2` between plants as they have more room, a total of 20 plants. The tunnel orientation is east - west so light isnt an issue nor is the battle for "food" in this first year.

    The varieties are Rio Grande, Roma and San Marzano, all of which are cordons. Any excess will be planted outside.

  • #2
    Hi PW,

    This is a very good question that deserves a good answer so I'll shut up ...

    Only joking. I seem to remember Medwyn Willams discussing this in his column in Garden News a couple of years ago.

    He used to grow 3 rows of plant ofset (like the spots on a Domino) thinking it would give him good yeilds & better (more) choice. He used to suffer with fungal problems though cos of the humid conditions & restricted airflow so after talking to another great grower (Charlie Maisey I think) now he only grows 2 rows but still offset so that he can see all the plants & they have better airflow and he gets a better crop because they don't compete so much for nutrients.

    Trust this may have helped.
    ntg
    Never be afraid to try something new.
    Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
    A large group of professionals built the Titanic
    ==================================================

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    • #3
      Its just what I thought Nick, less is more so to speak.

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