Tomatoes transplanted April 15, 2017

That looks like a good tomato growing set up.

This is the first year that I used the plastic mulch.

Your tomatoes look great!! What a professional looking setup.

Thanks Rita. The cages I made 3 years ago.

Sidney said:This is the first year that I used the plastic mulch.

I agree! Love your tomato cages.....

they are the best ones that I ever used.

Sidney, do you "anchor" your cages in any way? My cages are very similar and we use some big stakes driven into the ground and tied to the cages, to prevent them from tipping over with the weight of the plants (and wind).

Sid:
Do you have to do a lot of trimming on your tomato plants to stop them from spreading into the next cage?
That is approx. the distance I put between my cages but even when I use wire with holes small enough that one can not put a fist through, unless I am out there trimming constantly they send out branches to invade the next plants space.
It seems when they go over the top they head directly for the plant next to them not open space.

No the legs are driven 8" into the ground.
I just let my tomatoes grow. The rails
are removable to place the tomato limbs.

Do you have a drip system for watering under the plastic?

Yes. The plastic has a drip tape attached to the middle. ordered it from flora flow .com.

RpR said:Sid:
Do you have to do a lot of trimming on your tomato plants to stop them from spreading into the next cage?
That is approx. the distance I put between my cages but even when I use wire with holes small enough that one can not put a fist through, unless I am out there trimming constantly they send out branches to invade the next plants space.
It seems when they go over the top they head directly for the plant next to them not open space.

The biggest problem with wire cages that I've had was, as the tomatoes limbs grew threw the
cage. The weight of the fruit would cause the limbs to pinch on the wire. I don't prune my plants.

Help! I planted my tomatos too closely! They are now 3 feet high and branches touching each other. Should I pull and ty and save some, replant somewhere? Build a trellis and prune side branches? Or...just let the roll and see what happens?

Thanks for your help and suggestions!!

How close did you space them.

And how many do you have? You may be able to pull some.

Can you post a picture? It might be better to prune off suckers than to try and move plants.

Yes, go measure how close they are too each other.

Sidney said:Yes. The plastic has a drip tape attached to the middle. ordered it from flora flow .com.

Hey Sidney, have you used that product before?

This is my first year using plastic mulch.

Orourkenatty said:Help! I planted my tomatos too closely! They are now 3 feet high and branches touching each other. Should I pull and ty and save some, replant somewhere? Build a trellis and prune side branches? Or...just let the roll and see what happens?

Thanks for your help and suggestions!!

How about using end posts and stringing wire at several levels to make a fence on each side creating a tomato hedge. The only problem may be the lack of air flow which could increase the possibility of disease. I don't think you could trim enough off the plants and keep them healthy and productive. I recommend two to three feet between hybrids and three to four feet between OPs/heirlooms. I cage my plants.