I grew all of those varieties last year in 18 gal containers, all doubled up like you are considering. I wish I had only planted one per container. It must have been a root war in there by the looks of it when I cleaned out the containers in the fall. I didn't get a lot of fruit, and the whole first month of fruit setting was wrought with BER. Just too much root stress I think. I promised myself that if I use those containers next (this) year, I would only put in one per container. The only reason I might recommend it is if you just want to try a lot of varieties in the same season. That's why I did it, and it was mission accomplished. But it was also frustrating because there wasn't really that much fruit per plant. But no matter what you decide, be sure to grow the Neve's. The 5 or 6 fruits I got last year (after BER season) were divine, and he will always be on my grow list.

The bins I'm using are essentially the same size you are using, and I asked this question a couple months ago. As it was explained to me, it depends upon what type of tomatoes you're going to fit two-to-a-bin. More compact varieties, and determinates, can handle two-to-a-bin, but larger indeterminates, not as well. Apparently it's not an issue so much with water and nutrients, but more with oxygen to the roots. That said, I have another reason I'm doing it this way. My space is limited, and I can only rig up seven totes in my garden. I know from past experience that it's very easy to lose a plant, like, say, a missed hornworm or something. Until I'm sure I have a large plant that can survive almost everything thrown at it, I'm growing two to a tub. Then, if it looks like there's a competition issue, I can cull one. I've been staggering the transplanting, and the ones that were put out in the tubs the third week of March are WAY ahead of the ones I'm still nursing along in their plastic cups...even though the non-tub plants still get fert and sun. -Bruce

Many people make taller cages by making a ring of concrete reinforcement wire (crw). How available crw is in smaller lengths, I don't know. Some people have used a second small cage, inverted, atop the first, usually attached with cable ties. How successful that is may depend on the gauge of the wire used in the cage uprights. [The times I've seen this method used, it's always been with self-watering containers, usually the hand-made ones.] This link evaluates many different methods of supporting tomatoes: http://www.mastergardeners.org/picks/tomato_staking.html Probably the easiest and cheapest way to get tall support is to buy tall stakes. You'll want to bury a foot underground, so consider that when deciding what length you need. Another option is the "Florida Weave" (I've seen the term "Texas Weave" used; I assume they're the same). In the first link above, it's called "Post and Twine Method" -- and badly described. See number2's post on this thread for a diagram; when I've used it, I weave around each plant individually, not two at once (they'll get mixed up enough anyway without my bundling them together in twos!). http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg041148319850.html?14 I have a neighbor whose late husband built tomato frames out of wood; most of her tomatoes are Roma-types, so the frames are about 3-4', but you could make them taller. Basically he just put two rows of stakes into the ground (I think they're 2x2's), then added occasional horizontal cross-pieces at different heights. This is a permanent installation. Here are the instructions for GWebber qaguy's homemade PVC cages: http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/tom_pvc/

so I dont remove any suckers? so prune what parts? I sure wish I could understand more. even though been gardening for over 40 yrs one way or another. but mostly in the ground stuff Ive got some beets started now in "gutters" the larger aluminum gutters.I tried the toliet paper and or one ply paper towel with "flour glue" but Im thinking the germination rate isnt good. I prob need to put some "bag around them to speed germ. even though it rained lots lately.... The gutters are like 4 foot long each and was cut and made back in former city at a "guttering and siding distributor." with end caps prof applied too. Very resonable priced too. Made while I watched even... I have them setting on brackets outside the deck. Prev I just grew baby lettuces in them....... I made landscape fabric liners to custom fit back then. now the "liners" have kind of deterorated.... We brough them with us when moving... even though Im not fond of growing stuff in plastic, aluminum etc...