re: Garden Updates

How cold tolerant are cucumbers? I know they prefer warm weather. Apparently we will have a couple nights of 40 something degree weather this week and I’m wondering if I should cover them. I already planted a few that were outgrowing the seed cup. I know tomatoes are usually good as long as we don’t get a frost.

Well, I have a crap load of backups. So I’m gonna let em ride.

I’ve got some clear plastic laying around. I may cover them anyways. I don’t like setbacks.

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planted 48 big beef tomatoes in 18 square feet. 

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Seriously? I plant about 6-8 in a 4x8 bed depending on the variety.

I did 3 rows of tomatoes in a 4x12 bed last year and it was too much. I put them like 18 inches or so apart and several got sick and died halfway through season.

This year I’m just doing 2 rows and will see how I do.

I also did not do cages, but used a string hanging from the top that I wrapped around the stalk as it grew. I’m bever doing cages again.

I do 2 rows as well with 3 in each row totaling 6 plants. I have one with 8, but they're some heirlooms that I prune really well.

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That's 32 square feet. I planted 48 big beef tomatoes in 18 square feet.

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WTF how? I had 10 creoles last year in the 4x8 bed and they were growing all over each other and I had a hard time seeing the fruit in the middle plants

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WTF how?

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I just do it. My method has been an evolution of trial and error vs plants/pot, pot location, and plant variety. Of course the pots average 2 ft spacing so the total area 12 pots take up is 8.5 X 12 ft, but the soil area is only 18 sq ft. Walking into the middle of that area is like walking into a jungle, but the smell is awesome. Mid May forward I water twice per day and add liquid fert (super bloom) every 2 - 3 weeks. I'll pick 30 tomatoes / day at the peak.

Main thing for me is to get them over with before it gets too hot (stink bugs, yuk). I've had some fungus problems but I just clip the affected limbs and toss. Hasn't really been a big issue.

I have 5 3'x 4' raised boxes planted with 20 red and gold potatoes. 4 plants per box. One box with basil, curly parsley, oregano, German Thyme, and a cherry pepper. The parsley and oregano over wintered in the box and seem to be nearly indestructible. I planted my potatoes in January and all the plants are about 16" tall now. In 22" pots I planted 1 celebrity, 2 creole, 1 super sweet 100 cherry, 1 gold pear, 1 sun gold, and a patio cherry tomato. I planted 2 dragon cayenne, 2 jalapeno, 4 more cherry peppers in deck boxes on the deck rails last week. Everything is doing well so far. All the pots are on wheels in case they need to go into the shed if it gets too cold. I wish I could grow squash but the squash borers are just too thick in my area. All are on automatic drip systems. There are about a dozen cherry tomatoes ripening on the patio bush right now.

A note about planting potatoes. Make sure the potato is a variety that will continue to produce tubers as you add dirt. My Yukon Golds only produce at one level. I have only gotten maybe two levels from my Red Lasodas. Both are in boxes that are only 12" deep this year.