Tomatoes and carrots... (fertilizer, veggies, backyard, spring)

[Rakhi]

I am planning for my first raised veggie garden this spring and since i have a small backyard, I need to fit in as many veggies together as possible. Please can you hep me with a few questions?

1. Since I am going to spacing tomatoes atleast 12 to 15 inches apart, can I plant carrots in the gap since they require only 3 inch spacing?

2. I am also planning to transplant Okra and egg plants (in different beds)...any suggestions as to what I can plant in between the spaces?

3. I aso need spinach...can I plant them in between Okra or egg plants? if ye, how should I space them?

Thanks for your answers!

[dohmixer]

This site might give you some insight into companion planting.

Better together: Companion Planting - Wellsphere

[paperhouse]

Yes you can plant the carrots between the tomatoes. Just make sure you have enough depth for their long tap root.

Okra likes a drier soil than eggplant and spinach. You can certainly plant the eggplant and spinach together though. Just make sure the spinach is on the north side. The eggplants will shade the spinach through the summer.

[Rakhi]

Originally Posted by paperhouse

Yes you can plant the carrots between the tomatoes. Just make sure you have enough depth for their long tap root.

Okra likes a drier soil than eggplant and spinach. You can certainly plant the eggplant and spinach together though. Just make sure the spinach is on the north side. The eggplants will shade the spinach through the summer.

Thanks paperhouse...do i have to worry too much about the spacing now? I mean I am going to space my tomatoes at least 15 inches apart...I should be abe to plant carrots in between the tomatoes right?

[North Beach Person]

Carrot seeds are very small so you may want to look at seed tapes. They have seeds evenly spaced along the length. Gurney's has them by mail order.

[brokencrayola]

If you are planting large varieties of tomatoes I would plant them further than 12" apart as tomato plants can get pretty big.

[paperhouse]

Originally Posted by Rakhi

Thanks paperhouse...do i have to worry too much about the spacing now? I mean I am going to space my tomatoes at least 15 inches apart...I should be abe to plant carrots in between the tomatoes right?

As another mentioned, I hope these are determinate or dwarf varieties. Tomatoes don't like to be crowded and lots of diseases can spread if the leaves are wet and they touch. I would recommend no less than 24" apart for indeterminate varieties. Carrots should be about 3" apart and can be planted between the tomatoes just fine. Be sure to put out a fertilizer a week or so after you transplant that has a high Phosphorous content. Stay low on the nitrogen side or you'll get huge plants with no fruit or roots.

[Rakhi]

Originally Posted by paperhouse

As another mentioned, I hope these are determinate or dwarf varieties. Tomatoes don't like to be crowded and lots of diseases can spread if the leaves are wet and they touch. I would recommend no less than 24" apart for indeterminate varieties. Carrots should be about 3" apart and can be planted between the tomatoes just fine. Be sure to put out a fertilizer a week or so after you transplant that has a high Phosphorous content. Stay low on the nitrogen side or you'll get huge plants with no fruit or roots.

Thanks for the advise paperhouse, I will plant the tomatoes with atleast 24'' spacing. I will stick with the same spacing for Okra and eggplants as well as I am planning to combine eggplants and spinach.

[paperhouse]

Originally Posted by Rakhi

Thanks for the advise paperhouse, I will plant the tomatoes with atleast 24'' spacing. I will stick with the same spacing for Okra and eggplants as well as I am planning to combine eggplants and spinach.

Eggplants can handle about 12" apart with 8-12" between okra plants. The spinach can be almost touching. Just keep them well watered.

[rebbel31]

5 gallon buckets make excellent planters for tomato plants if you want to use your beds for something else. But yeah 24 inches is best.