[GD_101]

Yeh I know its early to be thinking about it but I need to plan ahead! 

Ive got a little soil patch where I grew marrows, pumpkins and sweetcorn this year.
Its 18 ft long, 1ft 8 wide and about 1ft deep.
Next year im looking to put a raised bed on top of it to get that extra root depth by probably a extra foot.

1) How many indeterminate tomatoes could I get into that patch and at what spacing?

2) Ive grown runner beans, pumpkins, aubergine and tomatoes in pots with pure multi purpose compost, can I just dump the compost of those in the patch?

3) Should I use compost tea over the winter to really get the microbes growing and ready for next year?

Thanks very much for any help given 

[crh75]

You shouldn't really put the compost from the tomatoes or aubergines in there.
Space the toms at about 50cm each way.

[JayG]

1) How many indeterminate tomatoes could I get into that patch and at what spacing?

Choose the variety carefully; most cordon toms do better under glass (others will hopefully advise; I'm not an expert.)

2) Ive grown runner beans, pumpkins, aubergine and tomatoes in pots with pure multi purpose compost, can I just dump the compost of those in the patch?

Yes, although I tend to be super-careful and wouldn't grow tomatoes (or spuds for that matter) in used tomato compost just in case.

3) Should I use compost tea over the winter to really get the microbes growing and ready for next year?

The microbes can look after themselves, liquid feeding bare ground in winter is a bit of a waste of time; save it for the growing season.

[GD_101]

Hey many thanks for the replies, what do you recommend I do with the tomato and aubergine compost which are in pots? What could I grow in them next year?

Is 2 feet deep enough for the tomatoes roots to fully develop?

[DD.]

You can grow stuff that doesn't need alot of nutrients - radish, lettuce & so on.

As for depth - tomatoes grow in 4" deep grow bag don't they?  12" is plenty.

[GD_101]

Oh so once I've used a compost for a year it lacks alot of nutrients? What if I add in some fertilizer and maybe plant beans or another veggie next year?

Im not much of a salad person! 

[JayG]

You could do but it's not best practice, mainly because you don't know exactly what has been taken out of the compost so you don't know exactly what to put back in!

Best to view used MP compost as a soil improver (source of organic matter.)