I think this is because the soil in the new beds is so good, these plants are healthy with just a touch of EB on the Brandywines that I try to keep up with. I was trying to prune for air flow at the beginning, but just couldn't keep up with 200 plants (not all here, there are 62 plants in 2 rows planted about 2ft apart here). At first I was worried there was too much N in the soil since they were so lush, but I do have a lot of fruit set. Not many ripening yet, though the first to go out were late-season like Brandywine and Mark Twain - the earlies are at the south end of the row and went out later in June, they've set fruit but too early for ripe ones. Plus it's a cool summer, even the ones out in the field planted earlier aren't ripening (except for Black Krim and Bloody Butcher as I said in another post). Even the ones I have in pots on the west porch aren't ripening yet. Anyway, to answer your questions, I think if the soil is good (2ft of composted manure here, new beds) that the roots CAN support the jungle, and though I'd like more air flow and will be doing more pruning (if only to SEE any ripe ones in there), esp. as the weather gets cooler, again a good start in good soil goes a long way in disease resistance. These aren't particularly resistant varieties I've got. Now, I do think that I will plant farther apart and try to prune more (fewer plants) next year. Rotation would help, but since these look healthy and my field tomatoes don't, I'm going to plant tomatoes in this bed again next year. In the field (fenced garden) to the south of here, I'm going to go with non-solanaceous crops and try to amend the (sandy loam) soil even more, that spot has grown tomatoes (in different rows each year but with only 4 rows I have had to rotate back every other year) for a few years now. And, just speaking from this year and the "virgin" beds, I haven't noticed a problem with small fruit from not pruning - the plants/soil seem to be able to support the load. As the beds get older, unless you're amending them well each year, I would expect reduced yield and increased disease though. Again, rotation (and cover cropping, maybe even letting it go fallow one year) helps with that if you have the room. I'll be lucky if I have time to prune foliage - I think fruit will ripen when it's ready, I'm not planning on going on a "search and destroy" mission for new flower trusses this year. I may "root prune" the field tomatoes soon though to try to get them to ripen the fruit before frost - no new flowers on those (except cherries), they're half dead of septoria anyway. Edited to add picture. Yes, I'm ending up building the tunnel around the tomatoes now - I had to order connectors for the ridgepole and plastic after I'd transplanted. There will be some casualties, and I might have to top some plants because by the time we get the plastic on they'll be touching it. This post was edited by ajsmama on Wed, Aug 20, 14 at 12:00

It is interesting about the love/hate of the look. Every time I have my lovely white ones on in my high ceiling rooms I am almost immediately transported back to "Casablanca" :) I don't have them going fast and furious...just a nice lazy round and round. I find it not only cooling but also very hypnotic and restful. Lace curtain at the window flutters just a little and the shadows move...ice tinkles in a tall glass of tea...page turning in a good long interesting book...mmmmh. Nice that we each have different tastes. I have an extension pole and the brush attachment to dust the blades. Easy to do. c

I am trying to do the math on this. LOL Where do you enter the room? I think I would want the window with the seating area closest to where you enter the room, if you enter at one end. Will the table be extended all the time(13 ft), or be at the just over 7'length most of the time? Am I correct in assuming that the room is 27' long, so the fireplace and credenza are on a long wall? Here is what I am thinking. First, that pix would help. :-) Second, even with the table open, allowing for three feet at either end of the table fully extended leaves you with a space at one end of 8 x 13 feet, which is a decent space for some seating. Plus, my inclination to balance the credenza and mirror on the one side is a tall bookcase/displace cabinet on the other. That would tie in nicely with the seating area, giving it the sense of a library space. If the floors are wood, a rug under the table and one in the seating area would help, but the rug under the table is dependent upon how the table will be sized most of the time.

Contact the manufacturer, or go to your local hardware store and see if they have parts.