Mixing variety in container?

10iron · April 12, 2013

I'm considering planting some heirloom tomatoes such as Ana's Peace or Paul Robeson in the one container I've built. Is there any advantage to planting two of the same variety, or one of each. Pollination and such?

rnewste · April 12, 2013

No hard and fast rules. Just make sure both have the same growth habit (you don't want to mix a dwarf with a full size plant). I try to plant 2 of the same variety when saving seeds, to reduce the chances of an accidental cross.

Raybo

bulllake · April 13, 2013

Would you mind sharing with me your fertilizing routine for your ear

thtainers ?

dfollett · April 13, 2013

Raybo -

Why not mix growth habits? What's the down side? I planned on planting a short growing variety on one side and an indeterminate on the other so I could face the narrow side south and not have one shade the other - squeeze more in the same area.

10iron · April 13, 2013

If I plant a purple tomato next to a big red, will they cross-pollination and result in a tomato which is neither?

marc_groleau · April 13, 2013

If you don't save the seeds and follow the advice already provided, there is no down side. If you save seeds, you could get a cross next year but even that's not as likely as not getting a cross.

rnewste · April 13, 2013

bulllake - here are the planting / fertilizing instructions in the EarthTainer Guide:

http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/pd...tion-Guide.pdf

dfollet - the concern is that the larger plant will dominate the smaller plant in close quarters in a container. If you are specifically going to "engineer" the smaller plant's location and Sun exposure, then go for it.

Raybo

maf · April 13, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

If you are specifically going to "engineer" the smaller plant's location and Sun exposure, then go for it.

Raybo

Very good advice, the small and the tall can coexist if positioned right.

April 12, 2013	#1
10iron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Okla Posts: 2	Mixing variety in container? I'm considering planting some heirloom tomatoes such as Ana's Peace or Paul Robeson in the one container I've built. Is there any advantage to planting two of the same variety, or one of each. Pollination and such?

April 13, 2013	#3
bulllake Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Burlington NC Posts: 13	Raybo Would you mind sharing with me your fertilizing routine for your earthtainers ?

April 13, 2013	#5
10iron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Okla Posts: 2	result of cross-pollination If I plant a purple tomato next to a big red, will they cross-pollination and result in a tomato which is neither? Last edited by 10iron; April 13, 2013 at 01:07 PM.

April 13, 2013	#6
marc_groleau Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 444	If you don't save the seeds and follow the advice already provided, there is no down side. If you save seeds, you could get a cross next year but even that's not as likely as not getting a cross. Last edited by marc_groleau; April 13, 2013 at 08:34 PM.

April 12, 2013	#2
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	No hard and fast rules. Just make sure both have the same growth habit (you don't want to mix a dwarf with a full size plant). I try to plant 2 of the same variety when saving seeds, to reduce the chances of an accidental cross. Raybo

April 13, 2013	#4
dfollett Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 693	Raybo - Why not mix growth habits? What's the down side? I planned on planting a short growing variety on one side and an indeterminate on the other so I could face the narrow side south and not have one shade the other - squeeze more in the same area.