How Far Apart Should You Plant Tomatoes in Your Garden?

Whether you start your tomatoes from seed or buy tomato seedlings, as you get ready to plant them, keep in mind proper spacing is essential for successful growing.

As a rule of thumb, allow 2 to 3 feet of space in all directions for each plant. Determinate tomatoes require less space than indeterminate tomatoes so the exact spacing depends on what type of tomato you are planting.

Read on to learn about properly spacing determinate vs. indeterminate tomatoes, the pitfalls of insufficient spacing, and other tomato growing tips.

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Spacing Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Before planting, check the seed package or the plant label, which should tell you if the tomato variety is determinate or indeterminate. Both tomato types are vines, but their growth habits are different, which impacts the spacing.

Tomato spacing is usually given in two measurements: space between plants and space between rows.

Space Determinate Tomatoes 1-2 Feet Apart

Determinate tomatoes grow only to a certain height, then flower, set fruit, and ripen within a short timeframe. They can be planted as little as 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 3 to 4 feet apart.

The plants are often compact enough that they don’t require support. Because of their limited growth, they also don’t need pruning.

Space Indeterminate Tomatoes 3-4 Feet Apart

Indeterminate tomatoes are the exact opposite—they have a long growing season that only ends with the first fall frost. They need a much more generous spacing than determinate tomatoes and should be spaced at least 3 feet apart in rows at least 4 feet apart.

Indeterminate tomatoes should always be staked, trellised, or caged. Pruning the plants is also essential to keep the vigorous growth under control. 

Spacing Tip

If in doubt, plant tomatoes further apart rather than closer together. There is no harm in giving them extra space, but too little space can result in a disappointing tomato season.

Why It's Important to Space Tomatoes Properly

Proper spacing between plants is important to keep tomato plants healthy. Even with the best care, the plants are prone to numerous diseases, including fungal diseases such as early blight and late blight and viruses such as tomato mosaic virus.

Plants growing in crowded conditions with poor air circulation are an ideal breeding ground for fungal diseases to spread. Generous spacing between tomato plants is also important to give you easy access for pruning, weeding, and harvesting without the risk of damaging neighboring plants.

4 Signs Tomatoes Are Spaced Too Close Together

Unfortunately, not giving your tomato plants sufficient space will backfire sooner or later in the growing season. You'll know that you skimped on spaced when:

1. The plants are growing slowly or producing a poor harvest because they are competing for nutrients and water.

2. You cannot tell where one plant ends, and the next one starts because the vines have become entangled.

3. The foliage remains wet for hours after rainfall even in warm summer weather because there is inadequate airflow.

4. Harvesting the tomatoes is tedious because you cannot easily access the plants from all sides.

5 Additional Tomato Growing Tips

To make your tomato season a success, here are some other key tips for growing delicious tomatoes:

• Plant them in full sun where they get at least six to eight hours daily.

• Get the soil ready for planting with soil amendments and compost. Also, check if the pH is on target (between 6.2 and 6.8).

• Fertilize them every two weeks during the growing season.

• Make sure to water the plants deeply and regularly at the base.

• Harvest them at the right time. Not all tomatoes are red when they are ripe so know the checklist of five signs to look for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How close together can you plant tomatoes?

The absolute minimum is 18 to 24 inches between plants and 3 feet between rows for determinate tomato varieties.

What is the spacing for tomatoes in raised beds?

The spacing is the same as in a ground-level garden. Since space in raised beds is more limited, it is best to plant determinate tomato varieties, which you can plant closer together than indeterminate tomatoes.

Can two tomato plants be planted together?

No, you should give each plant its proper space. A recommended method of plating them is to bury them deeply in the ground. Two plants together would not only compete for space, nutrients, and water below the soil level but they would also grow into an entangled mess with poor air circulation aboveground.

Read the original article on The Spruce.