[MoreWhisky]

im growing my 3  types of tomatoes (the smadar sent to me free by JulesJ ,thanks again) in a raised bed outside and thought it might be a good idea to 'wall' the bed in half metre high clear poythene.

Would this be benificial or am i just wishing i had a greenhouse 

[Howard]

Yes, would be the short answer, I think...

It will create a micro climate to a degree, but will still allow a reasonable amount of air circulation. Watering will be slightly more awkward but that's no biggie, and, of course, you will have to make some sort of arrangement to pick your toms.

It would have to be made from very robust materials, with your posts driven well into the ground. The last thing you would want is it to collapse in strong winds and disappear into next door's garden - taking your tomato crop with it!

[iwantanallotment]

Thank you for asking the Q, MW - you've unwittingly solved a problem of mine 
ie, far too many toms sown, of far too many types....more thriving than I expected and limited greenhouse space - basically a 6' x 4' and a plastic that only gets limited sun - and my little patch all spoken for.

I've manage to nag several of Mom's elderly neighbours to take some potted outdoor varieties off me (bless em!) and have offloaded 40 plants that way. But was stuck re what I'm left with.

Your idea is brilliant!

I'm going to give it a go, and I'm sure others will too.

Thanks again for your insight, fab thinking! 
(and thanks Howard, for confirming)

[Howard]

Easy there... It's just an opinion! 

[iwantanallotment]

But makes sense and well worth a try, Howard!
(a fellow insomniac, I suspect  )

[DD.]

I've been growing toms outdoors for years without all this palava.

Make a wigwam of 4 canes, bases about 18" apart. One plant per cane. Canes are self supporting due to their formation, tie up/side shoot plants as you go.

Our's is quite an exposed site, no need for polythene. Don't put them out too early, they'll just sit there. (or worse).

[Howard]

But makes sense and well worth a try, Howard!
(a fellow insomniac, I suspect  )

We learn nothing if we don't try this old palava!

[Eatyourgreens]

Back in the days when the newspapers predicting the coming off the next ice age (On a almost daily basis) the standard way to grow outdoor toms if you weren't already in a micro climate like my backyard was to build a wall of straw bales and plant on the south side of this.



Bob


PS That was the cold sixties and seventies by the way.

[iwantanallotment]

Does it make a difference, re variety?

It's greenhouse toms that I'm forced to put outdoors, which is why it sounds good to try replicating g/house conditions (a bit) with clear plastic around em.

I'm not bothering with the couple of outdoor ones I have left.

[DD.]

It's the supposed greenhouse ones I also grow outside!

[MoreWhisky]

Im sure a little wall round them is going to be benificial , worth a try anyway.

And im sure the  old men on my site with there rows and rows of crops will laugh at my walls like some have over my munty frame , but i enjoy building stuff for my garden plot.