I am new at gardening. I want to plant about 25 tomato plants. I have read that I need compost. Where do I buy it and is it expensive? Also, should I use cages or stakes? I can't spend very much money on this, so any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks!

I am new at gardening. I want to plant about 25 tomato plants. I have read that I need compost. Where do I buy it and is it expensive? Also, should I use cages or stakes? I can't spend very much money on this, so any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks!

WOW! Twenty-five. Hope you plan on doing a lot of canning.

Cages are best and stakes require a little more work (tieing, etc.), but are cheaper.

Compost - you can make your own - shredded newspaper, leaves, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc (anything organic except meat and dairy). We have a compost tumbler, but you can make a compost pile and just rake and mix it every once and a while. You can google how to make a compost pile.

We use support stakes and garden twine to support our tomato plants. Cheap and easy.

Yeah, maybe 25 plants will be too many. I just wanted to make sure that I have enough to share with family and friends

I am new at gardening. I want to plant about 25 tomato plants. I have read that I need compost. Where do I buy it and is it expensive? Also, should I use cages or stakes? I can't spend very much money on this, so any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks!

If you are going to have 25 plants, I sure hope you really like tomatoes! You can get compost at Lowes or any garden center (Wally World, Kmart). Cages are easier but I prefer stakes even though you need to tie the plants. You should get a good tomato feed too. Tomatos have different food needs than most veggies (Ok fruits for you purists)!

for best results, wait until the "fresh produce ahead" signs start to bloom then just go "pick your own" once the sun dips below the western sky...this type of gardening has been working for me for many years now with some awesome results!! :whistle:

for best results, wait until the "fresh produce ahead" signs start to bloom then just go "pick your own" once the sun dips below the western sky...this type of gardening has been working for me for many years now with some awesome results!! :whistle:

We spent just under $50 for 150 tomato plants 12 cucumber plants, 8 lettuce plants, 8 green pepper plants and 100 onions. Add another $10 in for the peas, potatoes and green beans... thatsalotta fresh produce to be yielded for 60 bucks...:cartwheel

Yeah, maybe 25 plants will be too many. I just wanted to make sure that I have enough to share with family and friendsThat's a lot of sharing. Anyway, I use the cages and stakes because once it gets muddy in the garden a good storm will blow the cages over. I put one stake inside the cage to hold it upright. Dig holes for tomatoes and put a spoonfull of bonemeal in each. Keeps the lower leaves from turning yellow. Plant them with some miracle grow and voila, you'll have some nice tomatoes.

We spent just under $50 for 150 tomato plants 12 cucumber plants, 8 lettuce plants, 8 green pepper plants and 100 onions. Add another $10 in for the peas, potatoes and green beans... thatsalotta fresh produce to be yielded for 60 bucks...:cartwheel

Where did you find all of that so cheap?
Also, what are you going to stake the plants with?

Buy plants at Zimmermans on Rt 5 North of Leonardtown.

Where did you find all of that so cheap?
Also, what are you going to stake the plants with?
We always get all of our plants from the Amish in Loveville. A flat of tomatoes is less than what Lowe's wants for 4 tomato plants.

I prefer to cage the tall, indeterminate tomato plants that yield large, heavy fruit and prefer to stake the tomato plants that are more "bushy" and prduce smaller tomatoes such as cherry or roma.

We share our stuff, but I do process the majority for our use... I make and freeze homemade salsa, chilli sauce, speghetti sauce and pizza sauce. I also slice and/or dice the green peppers and onions and freeze those too. I can take out whatever amount I want to use while cooking over the winter and it taste just like outta the garden.