It is estimated that there are around 35,000 different types of tomatoes worldwide - most of which exist in the South American homeland of the fruit vegetable. But here too, the variety of varieties is almost unmanageable, and new varieties are constantly being added. However, not all varieties are suitable for raised beds.
Which types of tomatoes are suitable for raised beds?
Bush, balcony, hanging or low cocktail tomatoes are best suited for tomatoes in raised beds, as they grow compactly and adapt well to small raised beds. Examples are 'Balconi Yellow', 'Gartenperle' or 'Tumbling Tom Red'.
Size matters
For example, strong-growing varieties that grow up to 200 centimeters high hardly fit in normal raised beds - since the plants grow so high, you would need a ladder in a normal high raised bed in order to be able to harvest the fruit. It is entirely possible to grow stick and beef tomatoes in a low raised bed, as long as the volume of soil per plant is at least 15 liters. When planted outside, tomatoes form their main root mass about 30 to 60 centimeters below the surface. This also applies to tall-growing cocktail, cherry or cherry tomatoes with their small, often sweet fruits, as well as vine or vine tomatoes, from which the entire fruit cluster is harvested.
The best varieties for raised beds
The following, quite compact growing variety groups, on the other hand, also do well in conventional or smaller raised beds (for example in balcony or table raised beds).
| Variety group | Growth height | Growth | Fruits | suitable varieties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bush or balcony tomatoes | usually only 30 to 60 centimeters | bushy branches | small to medium sized, mostly round | 'Balconi Yellow' (yellow), 'Balkonstar', 'Bogus Fruchta', 'Donna', 'Heartbreakers Vita' (heart-shaped), 'Ida Gold' (yellow-orange), 'Incas' (egg-shaped), ' Patio', Paulinchen' (yellow), 'Red Robin', 'Rentita', 'Little Red Riding Hood' |
| Hanging or hanging tomatoes | different | flat, with long, overhanging shoots | mostly small | 'Whippersnapper', 'Fuzzy Wuzzy' (red-yellow stripes), 'Raspberry Rose', 'Pendulina Red', 'Tumbler', 'Tumbling Tom Red', 'Tumbling Tom Yellow' |
| Low cocktail tomatoes | mostly 60 to 80 centimeters | bushy | mostly small, very aromatic | 'Brillantino', 'Currant Gold Rush' (yellow), 'Gartenperle', 'Ovalino' (egg-shaped), 'Tiny Tim', 'Totem' |
Is austerity necessary?
Stinginess shoots are young side shoots that grow from the leaf axils. In tall-growing tomatoes, the development of strong stingy shoots is at the expense of the fruit. So you should break them out or cut them off regularly and early. This is not necessary for bush or hanging tomatoes, but only for short cocktail tomatoes if the shoots develop excessively.
Tip
In a rainy late summer and autumn, fungal late blight and brown rot often spoil your harvesting pleasure. This can be prevented with a temporary foil roof construction or a simple “tomato house” made of foil over a frame made of aluminum rods.
