Optimal Spacing

Black Krim · March 20, 2020

Tomato beds are four foot wide beds with two rows two feet apart, then I set transplants every two feet. Each plant is trained to two to four stems up six feet.

What would be the benefit of a 3 foot spacing ?? Will the roots fill the extra area??

(The soil is shallow as the growing "soil" has been built up on top of the drainage field of the septic system. Varies 4-8inches , amended with about 2 inches aged compost for two years.)

Fusion_power · March 21, 2020

Depends almost entirely on how much the soil has been built up with compost. Higher nutrient levels will support higher plant density. Also depends on the variety to be planted as indeterminate requires more room than determinate and dwarf varieties less still. My rule of thumb in a raised bed with moderately amended soil is to give each indeterminate 6 square feet,determinates 4 square feet, and dwarfs 2 square feet. You will have to fertilize quite a bit with this spacing. Tight spacing also leads to disease problems from the dense foliage.

zipcode · March 21, 2020

I personally find light/sun to be the determining factor for spacing, not nutrients. Actually very good growing conditions will lead to higher spacing requirements, since they have a leafier, thicker growth.
For me, about 40 cm between plants works well, one stem pruning.

Black Krim · March 22, 2020

Fusion Power.......how many stems are kept for the indeterminates in the 6 square foot space??

zipcode..... thanks the specifics.

Fusion_power · March 22, 2020

Up to 4 stems for indeterminates, caveat that the plants MUST be either caged, staked, or trellised.

Black Krim · March 24, 2020

ok.....that fits with my question about trying a 3foot spacing , as 6sq foot would be allotted for each Inderterminate, and I trained to 2-4 stems.

Thank you to all responders .

March 20, 2020	#1
Black Krim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New England Posts: 661	Optimal Spacing Tomato beds are four foot wide beds with two rows two feet apart, then I set transplants every two feet. Each plant is trained to two to four stems up six feet. What would be the benefit of a 3 foot spacing ?? Will the roots fill the extra area?? (The soil is shallow as the growing "soil" has been built up on top of the drainage field of the septic system. Varies 4-8inches , amended with about 2 inches aged compost for two years.)

March 21, 2020	#2
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	Depends almost entirely on how much the soil has been built up with compost. Higher nutrient levels will support higher plant density. Also depends on the variety to be planted as indeterminate requires more room than determinate and dwarf varieties less still. My rule of thumb in a raised bed with moderately amended soil is to give each indeterminate 6 square feet,determinates 4 square feet, and dwarfs 2 square feet. You will have to fertilize quite a bit with this spacing. Tight spacing also leads to disease problems from the dense foliage.

March 21, 2020	#3
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	I personally find light/sun to be the determining factor for spacing, not nutrients. Actually very good growing conditions will lead to higher spacing requirements, since they have a leafier, thicker growth. For me, about 40 cm between plants works well, one stem pruning.

March 22, 2020	#4
Black Krim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New England Posts: 661	Fusion Power.......how many stems are kept for the indeterminates in the 6 square foot space?? zipcode..... thanks the specifics.

March 24, 2020	#6
Black Krim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New England Posts: 661	ok.....that fits with my question about trying a 3foot spacing , as 6sq foot would be allotted for each Inderterminate, and I trained to 2-4 stems. Thank you to all responders .