My plan for 12 tomato plants was a trellis net. But will a nylon trellis net hold that many tomatoes?

[Growdo Baggins]

I'll anchor the net to some posts I'll bury in the ground. The bed is around 5x8 or so. It'll just be a horizontal trellis net with all the vines weaved through. I could do 2 layers and bring some vines above too. This is my first time, does anyone think this won't work?

 

[Chuck]

I think 12 plants in 40 sq ft is too many plants.

 

[YumYum]

Yea I'd say that is too many plants for that area. If you were to single stem them, you could get a few more in there but I didn't like single stemming my tomatoes.

 

[Growdo Baggins]

I think 12 plants in 40 sq ft is too many plants.

That sucks because I went out and measured and it's more like 5x7.5

 

[Growdo Baggins]

Yea I'd say that is too many plants for that area. If you were to single stem them, you could get a few more in there but I didn't like single stemming my tomatoes.

They're in there now. I thought I was too close but it felt right at the time. I guess I'll see what happens.

 

[Chuck]

They're in there now. I thought I was too close but it felt right at the time. I guess I'll see what happens.

Make sure that you keep at least a foot of air between the soil and the first leaves to help keep fungal problems at a minimum and try not to get the foliage wet.

 

[lifegardener]

I'll anchor the net to some posts I'll bury in the ground. The bed is around 5x8 or so. It'll just be a horizontal trellis net with all the vines weaved through. I could do 2 layers and bring some vines above too. This is my first time, does anyone think this won't work?

Sounds like a great idea. Agree that it might get a bit cramped in there with all those plants.
Send a photo when you can.

 

[DirtMechanic]

I hate to ask, but are they indeterminate? Those things can be 8-10 feet tall.

 

[Growdo Baggins]

Make sure that you keep at least a foot of air between the soil and the first leaves to help keep fungal problems at a minimum and try not to get the foliage wet.

I will do that. Thank you

 

[Growdo Baggins]

I hate to ask, but are they indeterminate? Those things can be 8-10 feet tall.

Oh Jesus! I just went and checked. 3 of the 4 varieties are indeterminate. I only know what that is because I heard it on a podcast a couple days ago. But when I bought the seeds I didn't know to check for that.

 

[Ruderunner]

Just for more scare factor, I've had a couple years where I ended up with vines approaching 15 feet!

How tall are your posts? You can start the netting a couple feet above the ground as the plants can support themselves for that distance.

As for too many plants if your soil is deep enough and rich enough, I don't see a problem with roots. But tomatoes need sun and airflow to prevent problems with the leaves. Maybe place the trellis a couple feet outside of the bed and angle it away so there's room for the plants to branch out.

 

[Chuck]

I can see a disaster just waiting to happen unless you remove at least 1/2 of the plants or remove at least 1/3 of them and grow vertically with a single or possibly a double stem.

Grow Tomatoes Vertically to Enhance Your Harvest - Fine Gardening

In our garden, my husband and I have had great luck growing tomatoes vertically and pruning each plant into a single stem.

www.finegardening.com

 

[Growdo Baggins]

Just for more scare factor, I've had a couple years where I ended up with vines approaching 15 feet!

How tall are your posts? You can start the netting a couple feet above the ground as the plants can support themselves for that distance.

As for too many plants if your soil is deep enough and rich enough, I don't see a problem with roots. But tomatoes need sun and airflow to prevent problems with the leaves. Maybe place the trellis a couple feet outside of the bed and angle it away so there's room for the plants to branch out.

That's a good idea. I will make the trellis nets 6 or so inches out on each side

 

[Growdo Baggins]

I can see a disaster just waiting to happen unless you remove at least 1/2 of the plants or remove at least 1/3 of them and grow vertically with a single or possibly a double stem.

Grow Tomatoes Vertically to Enhance Your Harvest - Fine Gardening

In our garden, my husband and I have had great luck growing tomatoes vertically and pruning each plant into a single stem.

www.finegardening.com

That article was helpful. I'm hoping that if I make my trellis larger than the bed, keep the main branches off each other and growing where I want them, use a second trellis level above the first, and keep the sucker branches off that maybe I'll be okay. I do have more room. I planted the tomatoes 5 days ago. I don't know if it would be better to dig them up and replant them or not.

 

[Ruderunner]

Tomato transplants well. Best to move them while a manageable size.