Two Plants per planting hole?

TomatoDon · February 9, 2006

Some people here in MS think you get better production by planting two plants in a larger planting hole, a few inches apart. The theory is that you have more roots. They grow up together, looking like one big plant, but with twice the roots...in theory. The down side is you have two plants together, each only getting half the growing room and each blocks sun from half of the other. I've tried it and didn't see much difference.

Have any of you tried it, and is it work it? Pros? Cons?

Don

Andrey_BY · February 9, 2006

Don,

I use rather the same method for giant indeterminate tomato varieties for glasshouse. Have a little bit wider hole, put together 2 plants, but very close to each other, stick their stems with the tape and after 2-3 weeks they were like one plant at the bottom. So I just cut the less vigorous stem of two and let this tomato-tree grow approx. on the same area underground.
While establishing this tomato-tree with 2 stems that brings me 2-3 times more fruits than from single plants of this variety and I save about 1,5-2 times of my square meters inside glasshouse. Usually I used to grow only 2 giant tomato plants per 1 square meter, but with using such technology I can grow 2+2

Tomstrees · February 9, 2006

Don,

I've done it with 2 Jaune Flammees, and 2 Opalkas - Both plants had choice spots in my garden -

They grew into huge plants, and produced
(for some strange reason) 3-4 times more than a single plant. Obviously its two plants=twice the production ; but by counting the number of fruits on one plant planted by itself and another one with a "buddy" - the possbily "stressed" plants produced more than 2 plants planted by themselves -

I may do it again this year if I have an extra plant of the same variety - but this year I'm going to give as much space as I can as I had a "breathing room" problem towards the back of my garden - Too many plants too little space ~

Tom

KCMO_Don · February 9, 2006

I have not heard of this!!!
I think I'll give it a try this year.
Any thoughts on using two DIFFERENT varieties?
Like a sungold and a black cherry?

Tomstrees · February 9, 2006

Don,
sure - I would do it ~ sounds cool ~ are you saving seed though ? That would be the only challenge ~ Tom

PaulF · February 9, 2006

A few years ago, I did just that accidentally. My main plant had a volunteer come up so closely I could not see two stems. I then made the mistake of asking in a forum if anyone had ever heard of one plant having two distinct sizes of tomato. The response was humbling....the silent laughter was overwhelming. My neighbors were in awe at my ability to graft tomatoes.

After my red face returned to normal, I decided it was pretty neat. Both plants did very well.

KCMO_Don · February 9, 2006

Are there any down sides to this?
I mean could we effectively double the number of plants in a given row? (or at least increase by 50% or so).
I am very intrigued by the possibilities.
Is there a "term" for this.

thanks!!

Jonesey1 · February 9, 2006

I plant like this, sometimes i will even put three plants to a cage in the same hole. The theory i was told was they would shade each other from the heat . I live in Texas it gets really hot here during the summer, well over 100 Degrees Farenhiet. They do get large and i have had good luck so far.

Scott

Zone 8a
Kaufman , Texas

KCMO_Don · February 9, 2006

I am all excited now!
My eyes are open to a whole new type of gardening!!

Til some expert comes along and dashes my hopes!!

HA HA

C'mon Carolyn and Craig... Let me have it

cottonpicker · February 9, 2006

I'm all ears!!!! NEVER HEARD of such a thing!!!! Doesn't make logical sense to me, but I'm NO expert.... what do Craig & Carolyn say??? Any scientific evidence for this phenomenon??

Tomstrees · February 9, 2006

I would def. give it a try - maybe 1 or 2 plants -

but take it from me ... DO NOT OVER-CROWD -

lack of air-circulation + wet conditions is disasterous ~ Tom

Rena · February 9, 2006

Maybe if you put one tomato on one side of the cage (assuming you use cages) and one on the other side of the cage............
I live on a hill so this is worth a try to me. The only garden space I have are raised beds built into the side of the hill and beds actually cut into the hill. My hubby refuses to move to real land that is flat

-Rena

KCMO_Don · February 9, 2006

I have a single raised bed/row, that runs north south.
raised 12" dug out 18" under that. 10+ hours of sun on TOP of a breezy hill

I shouldn't have trouble with air circulation or moisture.
I'll give it a try, but I'd like more pros and cons posted here.

Tomstrees · February 9, 2006

sounds like a winner Don ~ go for it !!

Tomstrees · February 9, 2006

yeah it crazy when you think about it ... the "pros" say 18"-24" inbetween plants ... kindof blows that theory out of the water ... in some instances !!!!! ~ Tom

February 9, 2006	#1
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Two Plants per planting hole? Some people here in MS think you get better production by planting two plants in a larger planting hole, a few inches apart. The theory is that you have more roots. They grow up together, looking like one big plant, but with twice the roots...in theory. The down side is you have two plants together, each only getting half the growing room and each blocks sun from half of the other. I've tried it and didn't see much difference. Have any of you tried it, and is it work it? Pros? Cons? Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

February 9, 2006	#2
Andrey_BY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a) Posts: 2,278	Don, I use rather the same method for giant indeterminate tomato varieties for glasshouse. Have a little bit wider hole, put together 2 plants, but very close to each other, stick their stems with the tape and after 2-3 weeks they were like one plant at the bottom. So I just cut the less vigorous stem of two and let this tomato-tree grow approx. on the same area underground. While establishing this tomato-tree with 2 stems that brings me 2-3 times more fruits than from single plants of this variety and I save about 1,5-2 times of my square meters inside glasshouse. Usually I used to grow only 2 giant tomato plants per 1 square meter, but with using such technology I can grow 2+2 __________________ 1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR

February 9, 2006	#4
KCMO_Don Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KANSAS Posts: 223	COOL I have not heard of this!!! I think I'll give it a try this year. Any thoughts on using two DIFFERENT varieties? Like a sungold and a black cherry? __________________ GIGGITY - GIGGITY

February 9, 2006	#7
KCMO_Don Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KANSAS Posts: 223	Are there any down sides to this? I mean could we effectively double the number of plants in a given row? (or at least increase by 50% or so). I am very intrigued by the possibilities. Is there a "term" for this. thanks!! __________________ GIGGITY - GIGGITY

February 9, 2006	#9
KCMO_Don Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KANSAS Posts: 223	wow I am all excited now! My eyes are open to a whole new type of gardening!! Til some expert comes along and dashes my hopes!! HA HA C'mon Carolyn and Craig... Let me have it __________________ GIGGITY - GIGGITY

February 9, 2006	#3
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Don, I've done it with 2 Jaune Flammees, and 2 Opalkas - Both plants had choice spots in my garden - They grew into huge plants, and produced (for some strange reason) 3-4 times more than a single plant. Obviously its two plants=twice the production ; but by counting the number of fruits on one plant planted by itself and another one with a "buddy" - the possbily "stressed" plants produced more than 2 plants planted by themselves - I may do it again this year if I have an extra plant of the same variety - but this year I'm going to give as much space as I can as I had a "breathing room" problem towards the back of my garden - Too many plants too little space ~ Tom

February 9, 2006	#6
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,289	A few years ago, I did just that accidentally. My main plant had a volunteer come up so closely I could not see two stems. I then made the mistake of asking in a forum if anyone had ever heard of one plant having two distinct sizes of tomato. The response was humbling....the silent laughter was overwhelming. My neighbors were in awe at my ability to graft tomatoes. After my red face returned to normal, I decided it was pretty neat. Both plants did very well.

February 9, 2006	#8
Jonesey1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tolosa, Texas Posts: 25	I plant like this, sometimes i will even put three plants to a cage in the same hole. The theory i was told was they would shade each other from the heat . I live in Texas it gets really hot here during the summer, well over 100 Degrees Farenhiet. They do get large and i have had good luck so far. Scott Zone 8a Kaufman , Texas

February 9, 2006	#10
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	I'm all ears!!!! NEVER HEARD of such a thing!!!! Doesn't make logical sense to me, but I'm NO expert.... what do Craig & Carolyn say??? Any scientific evidence for this phenomenon?? __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

February 9, 2006	#12
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	Maybe if you put one tomato on one side of the cage (assuming you use cages) and one on the other side of the cage............ I live on a hill so this is worth a try to me. The only garden space I have are raised beds built into the side of the hill and beds actually cut into the hill. My hubby refuses to move to real land that is flat -Rena

February 9, 2006	#13
KCMO_Don Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KANSAS Posts: 223	OVERCROWDING.... I have a single raised bed/row, that runs north south. raised 12" dug out 18" under that. 10+ hours of sun on TOP of a breezy hill I shouldn't have trouble with air circulation or moisture. I'll give it a try, but I'd like more pros and cons posted here. __________________ GIGGITY - GIGGITY