05/25/2026
We do things a little unconventional around here..
What do I mean by that?
Spacing suggestions - ignored.
Planting dates - ignored.
Planting in rows - only for row crops.
Planting hybrid varieties - not for us.
We use cattle panel trellises so we can plant tomatoes a lot closer, have healthier plants and get the most out of the space we have.
We plant things earlier than suggested and cover them if needed. The results? Hardier plants and earlier harvests along with an extra planting during our growing season.
We companion plant in our raised beds. We don't just have tomatoes in a bed and lettuce in another. We utilize the space the best we can. For instance in a tomato bed we have
Tomatoes, marigolds, nasturtiums, basil, oregano, calendula, onions AND green beans. In addition to early cucumbers in hanging baskets on the inside of the trellis!
How do you not plant hybrid varieties? Well, we plant heirloom varieties that thrive in our climate and have high yields. One indeterminate Brandywine Tomato plant can produce 30+ lbs of fruit. We shared that in a post late last summer about a volunteer plant in the germination station. That same plant also gave us MANY 1-1.5lb fruits!
Speaking of volunteer plants, we leave them be. The green beans that reseeded themselves, left them. The dill, marigolds, calendula, tomatoes and more that came up? Yup, we left them too. Even in the pathways because nature knows best and they'll benefit our garden more than any pesticide or human intervention ever could.
Pesticides? Not for us either. *IF* we run into a pest problem we'll use diatomaceous earth, neem oil or our hands long before we spray hormone disruptive cancer causing chemicals on our food. Yes, we know - that's not realistic in commercial growing. News flash - we're row crop farmers too 😂
My point? Just because it's always been done that way doesn't mean it's the only way or the best way to do something. 😉
Happy Growing, friends!
💚 Chelsie
