My urban setup for tomatoes

ScottinAtlanta · May 29, 2020

Folks, This has been a great year for gardens in Atlanta - lots of rain, and temps between 75 and 85. My set up is to plant around 80 tomatoes in containers around several bamboo pyramids. As they grow, I clip them to the next circle of string.

The tomatoes are packed with flowers and green fruit.

On the south side, I plant peppers and eggplants in pots.

I have a secondary garden in a side yard for the dwarfs in pots - they are in the pictures below. Again, great performance so far.

dshreter · May 29, 2020

That’s looking fantastic!

b54red · May 30, 2020

Scott how do you water them all when the rain stops? Down here we haven't had much rain and just watering my raised beds has been a real pain. Thank goodness we got a half inch of rain yesterday.

Have you been bothered by TSWV this year? I just pulled my sixth one afflicted with it yesterday.

I am also growing way too many tomatoes this year if there is such a thing.

Good luck as the season progresses because it looks like you have got a great start.

Bill

ScottinAtlanta · May 30, 2020

Bill, I run an irrigation system with an emitter in each pot. The whole thing works off the Internet - I use BHyve as my wireless system, and I can water remotely, from overseas if I need to. I can water 300 pots with a few clicks from Bangkok.

GoDawgs · May 30, 2020

Nice, Scott! Looks like you'll have a ton to can up. I'm just now getting a few tiny babies among the flowers.

It sure has been a good May rain-wise and come late June and July we'll wish we had some. Fortunately there's no funk out and about yet. Still, I'd like to get a few dry days to put out some Serenade as a preventative.

Did you get a big storm last night? We had a pretty good blow here last evening about 9:45.

ScottinAtlanta · May 30, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

Nice, Scott! Looks like you'll have a ton to can up. I'm just now getting a few tiny babies among the flowers.

It sure has been a good May rain-wise and come late June and July we'll wish we had some. Fortunately there's no funk out and about yet. Still, I'd like to get a few dry days to put out some Serenade as a preventative.

Did you get a big storm last night? We had a pretty good blow here last evening about 9:45.

We didn't get that storm, but lots of local violent storms moving around almost every day now. Welcome to thunderstorm season! Saw your pics on the other thread - how disappointing.

Notostraca · May 30, 2020

Beautiful plants and fantastic system.

Watering controlled via internet and 80 different pots so you could tailor the conditions perfectly for each individual plant...dream set-up!

jmsieglaff · June 2, 2020

Great looking plants! I don't even see a spot of Septoria, I am already seeing a few spots I've promptly removed here in WI--I would guess ATL would be worse, but maybe it's not a huge problem for you?

ScottinAtlanta · June 2, 2020

I do a daily run with scissors and remove every frond with disease.

Barb_FL · June 2, 2020

I like your setup. How do you keep your TeePee's upright or don't you have wind problems?

On the bamboo, you already made rungs from cord/string and as your plants grow, you are attaching the plant to the rung. Do I have this correct?

ScottinAtlanta · June 3, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barb_FL

I like your setup. How do you keep your TeePee's upright or don't you have wind problems?

On the bamboo, you already made rungs from cord/string and as your plants grow, you are attaching the plant to the rung. Do I have this correct?

I attach one of the legs of each pyramid to a stake in the ground.

Yes. I run a series of string supports around the pyramid at one foot intervals, and simply clip the plant to the string as it grows up.

Barb_FL · June 3, 2020

Thanks for getting back with me. Looks great and easy to try on a small scale, even one set of bamboo and a plant on 2 sides of the bamboo.

Rosine · July 19, 2020

Very nice, thank you for the pictures. I made teepees every year, but from smaller bamboo.. Half good only. I never thought of adding a string system like you did. will do it now.

MuddyBuckets · July 19, 2020

If you have difficulty getting appropriate size/length bamboo visit your local big box store and purchase some 1"x2"x8' furring strips. Drill a hole about 6" down down the top in each strip, loosely insert a bolt or even a length of clothes hangar to make a "top point". Spread the legs in a tripod and proceed as with bamboo.

I have used this method in the past and always sprayed the bottom (in the ground end of the strips) with a rubberized spray used for sealing gutters to prevent rot or just staple some sandwich baggies on them. Be sure to secure at least one strip with a solid stake in the ground to prevent them from toppling in high winds.

Rosine · August 9, 2020

Did not think about protecting the ends, that is a good advice (I like less work), thank you!

May 30, 2020	#7
Notostraca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Scotland Posts: 36	Beautiful plants and fantastic system. Watering controlled via internet and 80 different pots so you could tailor the conditions perfectly for each individual plant...dream set-up! __________________ Happy growing, Emilia

July 19, 2020	#14
MuddyBuckets Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Eastern/Coastal NC 8b Posts: 192	Tomato Tripods are Great If you have difficulty getting appropriate size/length bamboo visit your local big box store and purchase some 1"x2"x8' furring strips. Drill a hole about 6" down down the top in each strip, loosely insert a bolt or even a length of clothes hangar to make a "top point". Spread the legs in a tripod and proceed as with bamboo. I have used this method in the past and always sprayed the bottom (in the ground end of the strips) with a rubberized spray used for sealing gutters to prevent rot or just staple some sandwich baggies on them. Be sure to secure at least one strip with a solid stake in the ground to prevent them from toppling in high winds.

May 29, 2020	#2
dshreter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2019 Location: Seattle Posts: 58	That’s looking fantastic!

May 30, 2020	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Scott how do you water them all when the rain stops? Down here we haven't had much rain and just watering my raised beds has been a real pain. Thank goodness we got a half inch of rain yesterday. Have you been bothered by TSWV this year? I just pulled my sixth one afflicted with it yesterday. I am also growing way too many tomatoes this year if there is such a thing. Good luck as the season progresses because it looks like you have got a great start. Bill

May 30, 2020	#4
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Bill, I run an irrigation system with an emitter in each pot. The whole thing works off the Internet - I use BHyve as my wireless system, and I can water remotely, from overseas if I need to. I can water 300 pots with a few clicks from Bangkok.

May 30, 2020	#5
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Nice, Scott! Looks like you'll have a ton to can up. I'm just now getting a few tiny babies among the flowers. It sure has been a good May rain-wise and come late June and July we'll wish we had some. Fortunately there's no funk out and about yet. Still, I'd like to get a few dry days to put out some Serenade as a preventative. Did you get a big storm last night? We had a pretty good blow here last evening about 9:45.

June 2, 2020	#8
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Great looking plants! I don't even see a spot of Septoria, I am already seeing a few spots I've promptly removed here in WI--I would guess ATL would be worse, but maybe it's not a huge problem for you?

June 2, 2020	#10
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	I like your setup. How do you keep your TeePee's upright or don't you have wind problems? On the bamboo, you already made rungs from cord/string and as your plants grow, you are attaching the plant to the rung. Do I have this correct?

June 3, 2020	#12
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	Thanks for getting back with me. Looks great and easy to try on a small scale, even one set of bamboo and a plant on 2 sides of the bamboo.

July 19, 2020	#13
Rosine Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 13	Very nice, thank you for the pictures. I made teepees every year, but from smaller bamboo.. Half good only. I never thought of adding a string system like you did. will do it now.

August 9, 2020	#15
Rosine Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 13	Did not think about protecting the ends, that is a good advice (I like less work), thank you!