How far apart to plant tomatoes
Virginia Cooperative Extension and Colorado State University Extension set tomatoes 18 to 36 inches apart in the row, with rows 36 to 50 inches apart. In a raised bed, where you plant in every direction, 24 inches each way is the figure the calculator starts on, and the square foot method from UC Master Gardeners gives 1 tomato per square foot.
Where in that range you land depends on the plant, not the garden: bush tomatoes sit at the tight end, vines that keep growing all summer at the wide end.
How many tomato plants fit a raised bed
| Bed | 24 in each way | Determinate, 18 in | Indeterminate, 30 in | Square foot method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft | 4 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| 4 × 8 ft | 8 | 10 | 3 | 32 |
| 3 × 6 ft | 3 | 8 | 2 | 18 |
| 4 × 12 ft | 12 | 16 | 4 | 48 |
The spaced columns keep half a spacing clear along every edge, the way the calculator counts, in a square pattern. So a 4 × 8 bed holds 8 tomatoes at 24 inches, 10 compact determinate plants at 18 inches, or 3 big indeterminate vines at 30 inches. The square foot count of 32 packs one plant into every square to the edge, so it is the most the method allows, far tighter than the extension row spacings.
In an in-ground row, 25 feet holds 11 plants at 27 inches, 16 determinate plants at 18 inches or 10 indeterminate plants at 30 inches.
Determinate or indeterminate?
Johnny's Selected Seeds and Utah State University Extension space the two habits differently:
- Determinate (bush) tomatoes stay compact and set their fruit over a short period. Space them 12 to 24 inches apart in rows 48 to 72 inches apart. They are generally grown without heavy support.
- Indeterminate (vining) tomatoes keep growing and ripening fruit until frost. Give them 24 to 36 inches in the row, also with rows 48 to 72 inches apart, and stake, trellis or cage them.
Pick the variety in the calculator to switch to its spacing.
How many tomato plants per 5 gallon bucket
One. Virginia Tech's container guide and Colorado State's GardenNotes #724 list 1 tomato per 5 gallon container, which is also the smallest container they give for tomatoes, with at least 12 inches of soil depth. To fill the buckets, use the potting soil calculator.
Depth, timing and support
Tomato seed is sown only 1/4 inch deep. Transplants are a different matter: a tall plant can go in deeper than it grew in the pot, because the buried stem grows roots. Set them out after the danger of frost has passed and the soil is above 60°F, about 2 weeks after your last frost date. The tomato seed starting page gives the dates for your ZIP code, and how many tomato plants per person tells you how many to grow.
Using the calculator
The calculator starts on a 4 × 8 ft bed at 24 inches, square pattern. Switch to Rows to use separate in-row and between-row spacing, to Container for pots, or to an area in square feet or acres. The raised bed planner lays tomatoes out next to other crops.