Spread the legs on those tomato cages and get them in the ground more. You’ll thank yourself when the cages are full.
Arlo said:
Spread the legs on those tomato cages and get them in the ground more. You’ll thank yourself when the cages are full.
Yeah, you want that bottom circle about an inch or two from the ground. Most determinate tomatoes get about 34 inches high. Determinate means they reach a certain height and stop, whereas indeterminate will keep growing until affected by the weather or other factors.
Arlo said:
Spread the legs on those tomato cages and get them in the ground more. You’ll thank yourself when the cages are full.
Unfortunately, we were recommended to put tree branches at the bottom of the bed (to compost for the future), so I can’t get too much deeper in some spots…
Your bed looks much like these; we built ours in March 2020. One of the upper wood planks bent outward this year, leaving about a 2-inch gap between the lower and upper planks. My bed is 3x8 ft made of pressure-treated wood from Home Depot.
Looks like you’ll have plenty of sun, and it doesn’t seem over-planted. The only advice I have is to not overwater.
HarperMatt said:
Looks like you’ll have plenty of sun, and it doesn’t seem over-planted. The only advice I have is to not overwater.
Yup. It’s the one spot in our yard that gets full sun all day.
If you are growing indeterminate tomatoes, support them with something better than those cages. I cannot recommend the Florida weave method enough.
Axelle said:
What would you call those blocks with the slots for the boards? Where would one find something like that?
You can find them at Lowe’s. Home Depot has them too. If you stack them, make sure to put rebar through them. I went 18 inches high and used 4-foot poles.
Axelle said:
Sweet, thanks! Just by looking at it, it seems easy and cost-effective.
The 2x6s weren’t cheap, but hopefully, they’ll last a while. And you don’t have to build a big one like I did. Good luck!
Tip: Share with your neighbors.
Mulch.
There’s a 100% chance I’d use that fence as a trellis if that were my garden.
Needs water.
Not essential, because you can stake things, but just food for thought. If the wind whips through your backyard because of the cyclone fences, consider a windbreak. There are stages in blossom development sensitive to high winds, and I’ve lost more than my share of tomato branches to strong gusts. Good luck!
Mulch, and google brewing compost tea.
Recommend a drip line; it will water each plant with less waste than a sprinkler in drought. Make sure you’re not compacting the soil too much; it should hold worms or your plants will struggle.
Keep good posture while gardening. I injured my back removing caterpillars.
Put some mulch on top! Also, plant some flowers among your vegetables for biodiversity and pollination.
Don’t overthink it.
Keep watering!!