Author Topic: Growing tomatoes (Read 4584 times)

Wow, can't believe I lost everything I just typed because a pic was too large!

Have you guys ever considered Concrete Reinforcing Wire (CRW) to make REAL tomato cages? Buy & make once & they last FOREVER! I'm not ready to retype everything all over again but will try to post some pics. You can make round cages, triangular cages with a plant in each corner, "pens" or stalls, etc. You can cut the bottom wire certain ways to use as prongs to stick in the ground or even extend height. Typical height is 5ft tall. Usually available in rolls 5ft x 50ft or 5ft x 150ft, or sheets 5ft x 10ft. Some of it in my pics are galvanized sheets. The wire can be cut best with $10 Harbor Freight bolt cutters, though some use 4" grinders and some use linesman's pliers. The wire is 9 or 10 gauge (around 1/8" thick) and openings are 6x6" to reach through easily.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Those 3-ring cheap hardware store cages are only good for dwarf plants and especially good for pepper plants... that's about it.

BrickStoneOven · « **Reply #68 on:** May 04, 2011, 09:21:52 PM »

Is that a TT grand national?

Ronzo · « **Reply #69 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:02:00 PM »

Quote from: BrickStoneOven on May 04, 2011, 09:21:52 PM

Is that a TT grand national?

Looks like a Monte Carlo SS to me.

matermark · « **Reply #70 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:06:42 PM »

Quote from: BrickStoneOven on May 04, 2011, 09:21:52 PM

Is that a TT grand national?

1984 Monte SS w/383ci

Ronzo · « **Reply #71 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:09:05 PM »

Quote from: matermark on May 04, 2011, 10:06:42 PM

1984 Monte SS w/383ci

We are not worthy. We are not worthy.

matermark · « **Reply #72 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:15:19 PM »

Quote from: Ronzo on May 04, 2011, 10:09:05 PM

We are not worthy. We are not worthy.

Thanks. It's a real money pit. Many, many mods. We bought it brand new. Around 50K miles now I think.

dellavecchia · « **Reply #73 on:** May 20, 2011, 01:31:10 PM »

My san marzano, principe borghese and cuor di bue are in - we have had a huge stretch of rain, and it is just stopping. The next 3-4 days will be cloudy, so it is a perfect time to transplant. I did hardening last week for 5 days. Nearly 50 tomato plants this year as I expanded my garden space. Here's hoping for a good season!

John

BrickStoneOven · « **Reply #74 on:** May 20, 2011, 01:59:58 PM »

John that garden looks really nice and neat. I can't believe how much its raining either, it was driving me crazy. I've had a tarp over the tomatoes for the last 3 days.

BrickStoneOven · « **Reply #75 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:26:51 PM »

Oh yea how far apart are you usually supposed to plant tomatoes from each other in a garden? I gave my neighbor 2 of my tomatoes and put them about 1.5 feet from one another. Was that to close or is that fine.

Matthew · « **Reply #76 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:46:42 PM »

Quote from: BrickStoneOven on May 20, 2011, 01:59:58 PM

John that garden looks really nice and neat. I can't believe how much its raining either, it was driving me crazy. I've had a tarp over the tomatoes for the last 3 days.

It's been raining here for 6 days. Sunshine tomorrow, then rain Sunday & Monday. My dad's growing my San Marzano's in his greenhouse.

Matt

dellavecchia · « **Reply #77 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:03:13 PM »

Quote from: BrickStoneOven on May 20, 2011, 04:26:51 PM

Oh yea how far apart are you usually supposed to plant tomatoes from each other in a garden? I gave my neighbor 2 of my tomatoes and put them about 1.5 feet from one another. Was that to close or is that fine.

I am using a Calabrian method and they are 12 inches apart. People will say it is too close, but it works very well - they be become a wall of tomatoes.

John

BrickStoneOven · « **Reply #78 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:13:58 PM »

Quote from: dellavecchia on May 20, 2011, 06:03:13 PM

I am using a Calabrian method and they are 12 inches apart. People will say it is too close, but it works very well - they be become a wall of tomatoes.

John

Can't wait to see the results.

vr6Dad · « **Reply #79 on:** June 05, 2011, 05:39:40 PM »

Here is one of my dozen and a half Roma tomato plants. I have a few generic Roma plants, some Roma VF plants and some Pompeii Roma plants. I'm also growing basil, 4 types of peppers, onions and a few other things here and there.

I'm growing everything in a square foot garden configuration. I have three 4ft x 4ft plots, and two 4ft x 2ft plots. The little plots are just for maters and peppers and get sun from sunrise to sunset.

I'm looking forward to fresh and canned sauce!