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Heirloom Vegetables: Newbie with Q's on how far apart to plant heirloom tomatoes

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Forum: Heirloom VegetablesReplies: 2, Views: 81
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Bookerc1
Mackinaw, IL
(Zone 5a)

March 21, 2008
1:11 PM

Post #4691219

OK, I think I've gotten myself in hot water. I've never tried heirloom tomatoes before, but on a whim got a packet of mixed heirloom tomatoes. It contains:

Bonny Best (red)
Brandywine Pink (pink)
Golden Sunburst (yellow)
Black Krim (purple)
Evergreen (green)
Djena Lee's Golden Girl (orange).

But I also bought seeds for Rutgers, and two hybrids, Super Boy and Best Boy.

Now I've spent hours reading, trying to learn about heirlooms and what I need to do differently, and can't find the answers to some of my questions!

1. Was it dumb to buy a mixed packet? I sowed them in little cells, several to a cell, but when it comes time to thin them, how do I know if they are a weakling, or just a smaller variety? These were the first to germinate, several days before the hybrids. I have 12 cells with 2-4 plants per cell. Do I just tease them apart and plant them all, to ensure I get a sampling of all the varieties? I usually only do 6-10 tomato plants a year, and this year got carried away with 30 cells, each with several plants! I can thin the hybrids without cringing, but don't know how to distinguish between the heirlooms when they are mixed. . .

2. When I eventually plant them out in the garden, how far apart do I need to plant them? Is cross-pollination only an issue if you are saving seeds for exchange, or does it affect this year's crop?

3. Do I need to worry about separating them from my hybrids? I have pretty limited space. Maybe I should put some of the hybrids in pots, and try to remember to water them regularly??? I've never done tomatoes in containers before. . .

4. I never knew the difference between determinate and indeterminate varieties before discovering DG. From all your vast realms of experience, what have you found works well for staking/caging/otherwise supporting the plants?

Thanks for any insight or direction you can give me!

Booker

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Other Heirloom Vegetables Threads you might be interested in:

Subject Thread Starter Replies Last Post
Fermentation Brook 46 Oct 9, 2007 8:57 PM
Carolyn, Tell Us Please..... Brook 21 Jul 29, 2007 4:56 PM
Antique Ornamentals anyone? plantman38104 52 May 10, 2008 11:05 PM
Your absolute favorite heirloom tomato Phred 130 May 8, 2008 6:59 PM
Lily of the Valley MsMaati 25 May 14, 2007 12:36 PM


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