Gardening on a Postage Stamp

[bluelacedredhead]

I'm moving again. This time, back to the city and a postage stamp garden. I remember back in the 70's and early 80's growing much of what I planted vertically. But I have no clue what varieties I grew back then other than Jet Star and Moreton Hybrid (which I was reintroduced to in 2007 and have continued to grow every year since then). Also have several Red Bullet seedlings awaiting planting.

But looking for other suggestions as I'm probably going to have to limit tomato plants to 24 and peppers to 12 unless I limit my plantings to slim, trim varieties.

Yes, there are fences on two sides of the garden plot for vertical growing. Also a deck and a long driveway for containers.

I know there are some City Dwellers here that have limited space. I've seen some of their pictures. I'd love to hear your suggestions.

[jcm05]

BLRH, you might consider staking your tomato plants and pruning to a couple leaders. This will make them a bit more narrow and conserve space if you want to fit more plants in.

[bluelacedredhead]

Pruning? OMG, MOre Work, lol
Good thought...
I only use cages on a few plants. Instead I use 2x2's or Rebar. But would Florida Weave and pruning the plants keep them even more compact and tidy?



I also checked out some online videos tonight about vertical gardening.

[grunt]

Blue: Don't know if this will be any help, but I routinely crowd all of my plants = my usual maximum spacing for tomatoes is 18" = it's a habit I got into when I used to have limited garden space, and I have never been able to break the habit. Peppers actually seem to do a bit better if they are somewhat crowded, and tomatoes will do fine for me at 12" spacing.

[bluelacedredhead]

May 21, 2011 0:57:10 GMT -5 grunt said:

crowd all of my plants

Yeah me too, Grunt.
When I grew only hybrids &/or determinates I would space plants no wider than the width of a standard tomato cage. What's that? Abpout 12"? Had to stop doing that when I began growing indeterminates and heirlooms because a) they were too large and heavy for those little cages and it was just a little too crowded

As I think this over, I find I have other varieties that will work well. Kimberly, Stupice, Red Bullet come readily to mind. I can plant a few large indeterminates along the fence and then shorter ones in front, kinda like planting a perennial flower bed.

See, every little suggestion gives me Food for Thought. This might be my best garden yet ;D

[bunkie]

May 21, 2011 0:57:10 GMT -5 grunt said:

Blue: Don't know if this will be any help, but I routinely crowd all of my plants = my usual maximum spacing for tomatoes is 18" = it's a habit I got into when I used to have limited garden space, and I have never been able to break the habit. Peppers actually seem to do a bit better if they are somewhat crowded, and tomatoes will do fine for me at 12" spacing.

this works very well for us too dan.

[reubent]

hey, yer moving the wrong direction! needa head for the remote country. I have the problems of trees growing like crazy, no level land, rocks galore, but plenty of space to mess with. And no sounds of traffic except the occasional truck off in the distance going up or down the mountain road. The birds, frogs, and bugs are my night serenade.

[bluelacedredhead]

Reuben, sorry, I just noticed your post about moving in the wrong direction.
I've already played that game, TY. Been out in the boonies for 18 years and I've had as much Isolation as I can handle. I know I'll miss the deer, wild turkeys and rare toads in my yard, but they aren't much for conversation. I've had the misfortune of choosing two places to live that aren't open to outsiders. I got the hint now I'm going back home.

[jcm05]

I wish you luck BLRH. I hear mules aren't much for conversation either.

[bluelacedredhead]

Yeah, there were lots of JackAsses there too, ;D