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Show FARM, RANCH & GARDEN Editlon-Ap- rll, Training cages make possible elephant-siz- e yields up tomatoes per plant-c- an be produced by training individual plants within diameter cages of concrete reinforcing wire Elephant-siz- e to 200 18-in- with 6x6 in. mesh, time-consumi- pruning, staking, and tying are eliminated. Plants grow naturally, like a tree, and can reach a height of 7 ft. As tomatoes are high and dry and protected by the plants own foliage, theres no problem of sunscald, cracking or rotting on the ground. Bonus production comes not only from the increased vigor of each plant but also from suckers which you may have pruned out in the past. But you cant just plop a plant in the ground, throw a ring around it and walk away. This method, like others, has its own rules. Heres the technique: First, h to plan on only d the usual number of plants, providing your garden ordinarily produces an average of 30 tomatoes one-sixt- one-thir- per traditionally pruned and staked plant. a vigorous, indeterminate main crop tomato variety, Compact, determinate types, which include many early varieties, dont need this type of support.) Ive had excellent results with Golden Boy and Better VFN, which is Boy resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt and nematodes. In a recent test, just eight plants of these two varieties produced a total of more than 1,400 tomatoes, many over a pound and some two pounds in weight. More than 500 of these were brought in just before a killing frost in October. Placed in a cool basement and covered with newspapers to keep out light, these partially-ripene- d or green tomatoes lasted until well after Christmas. Choose yields PLANTS growing season. Allow 5 ft. between rings to provide growing room and adequate ventilation. As early as the ground can be worked, plant fastmaturing crops such as lettuce and peas between locations. 3-- full-seas- To give plants a fast star and keep them growing without setback, build an individual compost heap beneath each tomato plant. Two weeks before planting, 4 in. deep and dig holes about a foot in diameter. Fill each hole with water, add Vi cup of fish emulsion 15-2- (available at garden centers) and let it soak in. Just for good measure, repeat bone meal and another of superphosphate or rack phosphate, mixed together and dampened with a sprinkling can. Replace the soil until ground is level. With the soil thus in. tomato prepared, a plant can be planted upright and very deep. Roots will develop all along the stem and this gives the plant the extra vigor it needs for heavy production over a long period. Pinch off all leaves except for the top in. This is all that is exposed above the ground. Roots will form ih. above the small compost heap, which quickly heats up and promotes growth. Roots 12-1- 5 1V4-- 2 4--5 the pre-plafeeding twice eventually penetrate the more. compost area and this At the bottom of the holes, supplies valuable nutrients. add about a layer of At the time of planting, dried grass clippings, then coffee can with throw in a couple of sink a shovelfuls of compost or holes punched in the bottom manure (the dehydrated just inside each ring. This garden center variety may youll later use for watering be substituted). All this is and feeding with manure topped with a handful of tea. nt b. Large container available Need large containers for and flowers planting vegetables? See your local delicatessen, advises the National Garden Bureau They often have surplus plastic pickle buckets which are a good You Name it size for growing plants. Or, pick up inexpensive plastic buckets at your local paint store. Remember, several V bottom of containers for drainage. Plastic buckets can be apray painted with a color of your choice. we've got it! CARBON & EMERY COUNTY Glass Supplier and Installers tor Home, Commercial, Truck, Car & Camper To make individual tomato cages, count off 10 squares (5 ft.) of concrete reinforcing wire, cut the next section in half. Bend and crimp this extension to form a ring; cut off the remaining 3 in. and start a new ring. n. Many Yellow suppliers (see Pages under concrete) will cut the wire into 5 ft. lengths for you. Dont be tempted to 3-i-n. GLASS WORK ALL FULLYff GUARANTEED I! substitute a smaller mesh wire. If you do, many tomatoes will be trapped inside the ring and difficult to reach. Plan the positioning of the rings well in advance of the GLASS SHOP 140 East 100 drill inch holes in the South 637-166- 2 SEEDS FEwiuttr&-TOOl- k 197713 |