Tomato plant spacing

[cdgtxs]

What is minimum spacing for tomato plants . I have 2 raised beds 3 feet wide . One is 24 feet long and one is 19 feet long . I want to plant the maximum number of plants in each bed ( single row in each bed ) . How close can I plant them in the row . Mostly all are heirlooms that get fairly large . Thanks in advance for any advice . Also , I have cattle panels that I tie the plants to with jute twine as the year progresses .

[Whwoz]

Are you going to prune the plants to single or multiple leaders. This will affect spacing because of required air flow. Are you prepared to stager the plants or do you plant in a single row

[PlainJane]

You’ll get more tomatoes in the space if you stagger them ...

[Shule]

How much sun do you have? The less sun there is, the less you'll want to crowd them (but I don't recommend crowding them even in full sun if you're going for convenience and production). You'll probably want to give them even more space if there's a bottom to your raised bed that determines how deep the roots can grow. If there is a bottom, you may want to go with varieties that like containers.

The plant size matters a lot, too. Are they big indeterminates? Are they cherries or large-fruited tomatoes?

Are you caging them, so they grow vertically? If not, assuming you only do one row, the fact that your beds are long is an awesome advantage, since they'll have two open directions to grow without hitting other plants, even if the plants are closer together than ideal. If they are caged, they'll probably shade each other a lot without a good amount of space, unless they're short plants; but the possibility of sun from the two open angles should help considerably.

[TomHillbilly]

@cdgtxs--- you are getting great advice in the 3 above posts. I really have nothing to add. If you trying to get the maxim amount of plants in the smallest area. Than most likely single stem is the way to go. That puts the growth up high, and lets the bottom air out. Its why greenhouses do it in their confined spaces. By all means stagger your plants. And all this is depended upon the sunlight. I hope ya constructed your boxes free from shaded areas. I know you are looking for someone to post inches for ya. I'll make a stab at it, because I'm so brave. LOL. Go with 2 rows-- 8 inches off the sides. Stagger your plants on each side. Each plant in a row on each side-- 30 to 32 inches apart.
PS-- My opinion isn't much, because I grow in large area. My plants are in cages, 52 inches apart. Some of you raised bed growers correct my statement, where needed. I think cdgtxs is looking for inches, suggestions. There is a lot of good youtube videos about blight prevention, and treatments. Start watching some of them. Especially on prevention, and spraying with Hydrogen Peroxide. Youtube will educate ya on pruning also.

[Nan6b]

The way I see it, optimally I should have a 3' square area for each plant. I don't do that, however. The favored plants get 2.5'x3' area each. Less favored plants and dwarfs get 2'x2' or 2'x3' each. And my massive growout to stabilize a cross I made, each plant gets about 1.5'x1.5'. Growout plants get pruned to 1-3 stems.

[cdgtxs]

Thanks for all the advice . My beds are in full sun in central Texas so I get more than enough sun actually . I have 19 plants started that I want to plant . The beds are on the ground and do not have a bottom and I think I will try 1 foot from each side with plants about 2 1/2 ft. space lengthwise( will figure this distance when planting) with cattle panels down center of bed to tie plants to keep them vertical . Thanks again .

[QAGUY]

What is minimum spacing for tomato plants . I have 2 raised beds 3 feet wide . One is 24 feet long and one is 19 feet long . I want to plant the maximum number of plants in each bed ( single row in each bed ) . How close can I plant them in the row . Mostly all are heirlooms that get fairly large . Thanks in advance for any advice . Also , I have cattle panels that I tie the plants to with jute twine as the year progresses .

I have a similar situation. I usually plant about 3 feet apart. This give me room to get in between them for pruning and harvesting. I also limit my plants to 4 main leaders. I use PVC for cages.