How to Plant 11 Tomato Plants in a Square Foot Raised Bed Garden

[AuntDuddie]

My mom raised us as cutters and choosers. It was to the crumb. I have been Square Foot Gardening since Mel Bartholomew came out with the PBS show and the nice to read and easy to follow book. I found a few things worked better for me than 4x4 raised beds. A friend built me 3x12 foot beds and I loved it. Being short, it was easier for me. Now I container garden because of the contaminants in our soil. I sure do miss New Jersey gardening!

[lordvelos]

Hey aren't you also the solar panel guy and the juicer guy! I love all your stuff!!!

[noodlegirl1224]

Question on your watering system layout. Is that end capped behind you or did you use Ts and elbows to enclose it? I'm in low desert region 9b, is there any reason I should use 1/2 instead of 1/4 inch tubing for my 3x4 beds?

[alan30189]

Good video, but as you pointed out later in the video, plant tomatoes no closer than two feet apart. Three feet would be better.

[AJBiddle7]

Hey John- What about using Blood meal or Bone Meal in your gardens? Thanks for the videos! Sure inspiring and helpful for us newbies. I did SFG last year for the first time. My kale was AWESOME! It got like 5 feet tall from the continual harvesting. Anyway, Thanks again!

[growingyourgreens]

Im not a fan of blood meal and bone meal. I believe there may be diseases that come along with those two byproducts... So I choose not to use or promote them. There are many alternatives. I would encourage using plant based nutrition whenever possible. I have a healthy garden without using those two specific nutrients.

[turuanu]

Something is wrong with the wording of the title. I thought you were going to grow 11 tomato plants in one square foot. What's special about planting tomatoes the way you did here?

[BackyardDiscoveryCo]

Thanks for keeping it simple! Looks great!

[yolandasotolopez]

great video, my last 3 years I've tried to grow tomatos and get these black bugs and there goes all my tomato plants.. do you know what they are, I have tried everything from companion planting, organic insecticides, rotating beds.. still get those little black bugs (by the thousands) they don't bother anything else only the tomatos

[ScalerWave]

Nice raised bed... looks like that answers my other question.

[dilkepyar86]

hi, im in antigua. and im trying to grow tomatos.... it hasn't been growing properly and there is some sort of fungus growing on them.

[RTPgardenguy]

Thanks for the Texas Tomato cage tip. You're right they are an "investment".

[JimmyTFB]

misinformation-you dont need to plant tomatoes every 18 or 24 inches in a SFG. Its every foot and there are no problems with it. Been doing it for years without a hitch

[growingyourgreens]

I teach based on my individual gardening experience, and I appreciate your comments, as YOUR experience. I disagree with your statements. My tomato plants get 10+ feet tall and branch out WAY TOO MUCH to be planted 1 foot apart. If planting certain varieties and SINGLE stemming, I may agree you can space them 1 foot apart Maybe in your climate/soil they dont grow as wide. I encourage each person to do what works best for them.

[Twisted86]

@growingyourgreens

Here is a good tip that really helps. Lay carpet down and cut holes for each tomato plant, helps moister and you can let your tomatoes grow wild which is natural for a plant. I usually plant 10 a year and I grow at least 1500+ tomatoes a year.

Even if you don't let them go wild the carpet will still keep your water usage down. You can also use grass about 1 inch thick which also helps.

[gladtidings4all]

Loved this one very informative thanks!

[rotoclip]

john what is rock dust? is lime the same thing?what is green sand? nice vids

[tooledriver]

John, do you know if rabbits are known to jump into raised beds as high as yours.

[joez1794]

?what do you do after the season ends. As far as the root system.?

do you remove the compost etc.

[blueandmellow]

Great video as always... what kind of tomatoes are you growing this year?

[atwell8]

Hey John -

I was wondering why you waited so long to plant your tomatoes? Aren't they best planted April 15 - May 15, so they have the longest season for the most fruit? Thanks.

[growingyourgreens]

Why? I have been traveling the world, been busy making videos and living life.. Luckily the ones I did plant were purchased in March, and then "nursed" in the greenhouse and transplantted into larger containers.. Some already have fruits on them and most have flowers. I encourage everyone to plant as soon after their last frost date, even then, there may be a small percentage of a frost.. Its best to get the longest growing season by planting as early as possible.

[Helenelalala]

Drying tomatoes for winter! That's a real cool idea! Thanks!

[growingyourgreens]

I havent grown that variety of Roma, so I am not familiar with it. Tips on highest yields (aside from the basics):

1. use rock dust. Adding trace minerals will increase yields.

2. ensure pollination. Hand polinate (shake plants) or get a bees.

[hagbard72]

Kewl! Thanks.

[Helenelalala]

I love tomotoes too but why grow soo many tomatoes at once? Are they that essential to a raw food diet? Or do you work out to make them grow at different intervals? Or different kinds with different nutrients? Or do you plan to sell or give them out? I eat about 20-30 small ones per week and after seeing all these tomatoes planted I wonder if I should consume many more per week?

[growingyourgreens]

Why grow tomatoes? Because you can. Tomatoes are a delicious food. Especially fresh picked off the vine in the warm sun. I eat many tomatoes in the summer time. In addition, I enjoy sharing real tomatoes with friends so they can taste what REAL food should taste like. I have startled many people by feeding them my tomatoes. They really wake-up your taste buds. In addition, I grow for the winter. I dry my excess tomatoes, so I have dried tomatoes that last thru the winter. 

[semiconscience1]

First off thanks for all the great info. You really inspire me. Who helps you maintain your garden and also how much time do you spend maintaining it in an avg week?

[growingyourgreens]

Right now a friend is helping me maintain the garden. Sometimes I have helpers. On how much time, check this video:

watch?v=9v7cg6X8I4E

[bobinmissouri]

i have 2 big boys tomaters in 5 gal buckets what kind of trelis should i use can't aford them texas ones yet maybe next year love your videos learning a lot

[growingyourgreens]

There are many options. You can use a long stake and stake the tomatoes to it. or you can get some re-mesh (concrete re-inforcing wire) about $5 at home depot and make a few cages out of that. They rust, and are functional, and cheap.

[onefstsnake]

Love watching your videos with my wife. Because of your videos we started our own organic raised beds and they have been doing great! I actually just posted a video of our garden!

Thanks!

[Enix2012]

Another great video John..I have watched many of your other videos and just wanted to say thanks..Your garden is amazing and your videos are very informative. I just started my own garden with your tips and its going great...Keep the videos coming :)

[bargata]

Looks great! Are you also planting some on your neighbor's property again this year?

[growingyourgreens]

Yes! Thats coming soon.

[stymye]

yes peppers root out of their nodes

[loislaney23]

Love the cages, maybe some day. Nice way to set up the beds.

[moonshadow93924]

@loislaney23 they are nice, but expensive. not necessary.

[loislaney23]

@moonshadow93924 Actually I have made my own using 2x4's, I need to make more. I do like the one's made with fencing. Might try that. Thanks

[sogua2000]

Great video, thank s to share it with us.

[FishingNinja1]

At 7:58 is that your cat?

[growingyourgreens]

Nope, thats the neighborhood cat that hangs out here alot.

[CCbalconygarden]

Thanks for your great videos. When you clear out your beds from the previous harvest, do you empty out the soil and replace with new compost/rock dust?

[growingyourgreens]

No. all I do is add additional compost, rock dust, kelp on top. Im a fan of the "no till" method and do not like to disturb the soil any more than necessary.

[jaymeez]

Great Vid man... I got indeterminate plants without any cages in my yard and I'm worried lol... How much are those texas cages and where is the best place to buy?

[jwwm2]

@jaymeez Make your own. Get some 2x4 inch welded wire fencing. A roll is about $35. Figure out how big around you need, cut the fencing accordingly, wrap it around your plants carefully, and you're finished. Less expensive, just as functional, and easy.

[growingyourgreens]

The texas tomato cages are durable, and made in the USA. They are expensive, but you get what you pay for. They will be the last cage you ever need to purchase.. They are available at some nurseries (they have limited distribution) but the eaiest thing is to order direct from the manufacturer tomatocage*com they are $16.65 each + shipping (sold in sets of 6)

[scodurh]

@jaymeez my plants get 8 to 9 ft tall and about 3 1/2 to 4 ft around. I use fence cages that i make...i have had the same cages for 11years...they work great...grow huge and produce tons o tomatos.. if i put 11 plants that close together they would get mold...or this black gunk...mine need air to breath i would say i could only get 3 plants in that bed..go down to the local box store buy some nice wire fencing at least 5 ft wide...bigger if they have it...and make your cages...just a thought

[bradkrit]

@scodurh I wanted to make some out of the concrete reinforcing wire like you said, but it was so expensive! I just got the biggest cages - and already they are at the tops, probably 5ft tall. What do you think I should do next? I was thinking just big stakes and string.

[scodurh]

@bradkrit sounds like a good idea...support those vines :)

[Lleanlleawrg]

Convinced my mother to let me set up a raised bed or two in her garden (which is just a wilderness). Got the idea from watching your vids, I might add, though I had long been wanting to do some gardening projects.

I have no outdoor areas to my name, but she does, so I figured it was about time she used the space, and I'd help her. Gonna get it done some time this week, I think.

Keep up the good work, and keep the uploads coming!

[nuclearthreat545]

smart