re: The 2021 Garden Thread

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green bean poles.

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You referring to the plastic takes that look like rebar? I've had those in the past but they bend in the summer heat with any weight on them. Granted we are talking beans but I wouldn't use that for tomatoes and whatnot.

Agreed, the taller ones are much thicker and sturdier.

The 3-4ft ones are kind of useless. I got the 8ft ones to make my bean/cucumber teepee.

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I am growing a determinate tomato (Martino's Roma) variety for the first time. Should I prune the plant at all?

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The only time I prune my Roma’s is when there are leaves touching the ground, or when leaves are diseased. Otherwise, let it grow.

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Also, I was very successful growing a bunch of leaves last year for the tomato's but not much fruit. How often should I be fertilizing?

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When they start flowering, lay off of high nitrogen fertilizer.

Was finally able to get my plants in the ground this weekend, y’all are solid motivation
Ending up the mixed bag of tomatoes (creole, lemon boy and Cherokees mostly in 16 total)
And upping my salsa game with some ghost and Caribbean peppers but 1st time planting those so curious to see how it goes
But truly feels good to get started, can’t wait to watch em grow

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I stopped at cayenne.

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I’m the same, but the wife has a heat tolerance that’s not of humans
But we usually cut a couple salsa cans with pineapple and mangos that’s more my speed
And the pavers came after loosing a flip flop in the soil a couple yrs ago

Pillage will probably have better info fo ya
But in my experience make sure you leave enough room for squash and zucchini plants they take up a good 4’ square once mature
And Creole’s are really hard to beat on a summer sammich imo

Help me with when to spray for borer vine moths...they have singlehandedly caused me to avoid zuchinni and squash over the years...wife finally talked me into trying again

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avoid zuchinni and squas

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headed the other way. First year I'm not planting squash.

Gonna try some later in the year.

Eggplant will take up about as much space as a tomato plant. Squash and Zucchini will require more room as No8 said.

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What is the best variety of tomato if I want them for sandwiches mostly?

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Beefsteak types will be your best bet for sandwiches. Big Beef is one variety that has been highly recommended in this thread. I'm growing Beefmasters this year. I grew them in the fall and was having decent success with them before the hurricanes. They were big and delicious.