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  • #1

    Growing Tomatoes in pots

    Grow my toms in an 8' x 10' greenhouse.

    Had a great crop of tomatoes (Shirley) .. but again lost a load due to blossom end rot .... (and also some with same rot at the top) ... and splitting.
    Thinking that next year I'll not use growbags, and try pots - to try and avoid the water issues.

    I will arrange a framework to tie off bamboos too ... so stability not an issue, I will only grow cordon type, usually to 6 trusses.

    Anybody done this ?

    # What size pots. .... 20 Litre ?

    # Can I put plants straight into the final size pots .. or do I have to do it in stages, up to now bought plants in local suppliers and put them straight into growbags (with toppers)

    Do I need to grow them on in something large first ?

    # Normal GP compost OK

    Any other advice welcome.

    Any reason I should not grow cucumbers this way as well ?
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  • #2
    Mine are in a selection of 20 - 25 litre pots, 2 to a pot (cordons) in home made compost in an 8x10 greenhouse. Have been feeding weekly since the fruit set. The plants were given to me in 7 & 9 cm pots, & I put them straight in. They have been doing really well for me.

    Your support structure sounds a lot better than mine though

    Cucumbers in an old tin bath filled with home made compost, 5 to the bath. Also fed weekly. Not sure how many litres but about 4 feet long....
    Last edited by happyhumph; 19-08-2016, 03:09 PM.
    Another happy Nutter...

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    • #3
      Most peeps here use the black flower buckets you can get in the supermarkets (often on sale in Morris@ns 8 for 99p) personally I would only grow one plant per pot. If one gets sick it can easily be removed from the GH and disposed off.
      I think potting on up gradually into bigger pots, although is more work, gives much better results. Watering a big pot when the plant is small will flush all the goodness out fairly fast. I think the roots like to feel a little cosy too when you see some roots out the bottom pot on.
      Cucs fo well in pots too...I use a mix of bought compost and my own.
      Good luck...it's much more satisfying growing from seed

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      • #4
        My GHs are on slabs so I've created a U shaped bed all the way round and filled it with old compost about 4" deep. The toms are planted in open bottomed pots (buckets with the bottom cut off) and these sit on the compost. I've always grown them this way and it seems to work.

        Have a look at http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...oor_59779.html and see how others do it!

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Scarlet View Post
          Most peeps here use the black flower buckets you can get in the supermarkets (often on sale in Morris@ns 8 for 99p)
          what size are these - do you know ?

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          • #6
            I just built a bamboo support grid that is on 3 sides of green house about 2' in from edge, because it is tied at corners to brackets, and I have put in bamboo cross brace - is really rigid ... just tie any vertical canes to it with a plastic cable tie.

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            • #7
              We use BQ orange buckets for tomatoes, no Morris sons round here
              Nannys make memories

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              • #8
                I use the black buckets from Homeb@se, no Morrisons here either.

                And when your back stops aching,
                And your hands begin to harden.
                You will find yourself a partner,
                In the glory of the garden.

                Rudyard Kipling.sigpic

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Scarlet View Post
                  Most peeps here use the black flower buckets you can get in the supermarkets (often on sale in Morris@ns 8 for 99p)

                  Originally posted by Argonaut View Post
                  what size are these - do you know ?
                  I think between 8 & 12 litres as they come in different sizes.
                  Last edited by spamvindaloo; 20-08-2016, 01:47 PM.
                  Posted on an iPad so apologies for any randomly auto-corrected gobbledegook

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                  • #10
                    There are usually two sizes from Morissons and I use the larger ones for cordon tomatoes and the smaller ones for small varieties (like red robin). I stand them in trays and water the tray from the bottom and feed from the top (tomatoes have deep roots for water and shallow roots for nutrients).

                    I sow the seeds in plugs, move them to 7cm pots when the roots show and to 9cm pots when there are enough roots in the pots. Then I plant to their final place (in the polytunnel bed or pots for the greenhouse).

                    I've found that different varieties are more susceptible to blossom end rot, this year I've lost about 20% of my Kibits Ukranain and in previous years I've lost all but two of Rio Grande so I just try something else.
                    Last edited by MarkPelican; 20-08-2016, 05:39 PM.

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                    • #11


                      These bags are perfect for me, the water drains really well so you gotta be careful for them not to dry out but for bush tomatoes they're perfects. Radishes in the top too.
                      Attached Files

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                      • #12
                        Hunting about for an appropriate thread - I'm thinking this one will probably be best.

                        Does anyone use those tomato grow pots ?

                        You know the ones where you fill up the trough with water for a continual drink for the roots- with the facility to feed through the top.

                        1) Are they any good / worth the money ?

                        2) Have any geniuses on here made their own ?

                        Thanks
                        .......because you're thinking of putting the kettle on and making a pot of tea perhaps, you old weirdo. (Veggie Chicken - 25/01/18)

                        My Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnC..._as=subscriber

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                        • #13
                          If I feel the need to do this, I stand the pots in holeless seed trays. Water into the seedtray, feed from the top.

                          By using individual seed trays for each pot you avoid the possibility of a thirsty plant taking all the water.

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                          • #14
                            Cheers Mark.

                            Pretty simple really when you think about it - I feel a bit silly now.
                            .......because you're thinking of putting the kettle on and making a pot of tea perhaps, you old weirdo. (Veggie Chicken - 25/01/18)

                            My Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnC..._as=subscriber

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                            • #15
                              In the Greenhouse and grow house it's 10" Pots in gravel trays to water from the bottom, and the comfrey mixture or tomato feed goes in once a week in the greenhouse.

                              Outside in the garden it's square flower buckets with holes melted at about an inch 25mm up from the bottom so that the bottom can hold water.
                              Attached Files
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                              . .......Man Vs Slug
                              Click Here for my Diary and Blog
                              Nutters Club Member

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