Grow Your Own Magazine

I was thinking of growing tomatoes in one of my mini greenhouses. Does anyone recommend the use of grow bags - this seems the most sensible way for me to plant them, and then let them grow in the greenhouse. Or would pots be a better idea?

I've searched the forum, but cam't see any specific questions/answers.

Please, no jokes about grow bags - I've heard them all - ie: "fall asleep in a grow bag?" - "take you grow bag instead of your sleeping bag again?"

Also, as i'm too late to get seeds sown, where would be a good place to buy tomato plants from?

Many ta's

Growbags are fine for toms. Never used them myself, but my father used to. I'm sure others on the Vine will fill in missing details and correct me if my memory fails me!!
I think it's 2 plants to a bag . It will need more watering than a pot, and don't forget to make drainage holes in the base to allow excess water to run out.
You can buy plenty of varieties of toms at garden centres, but you'll be paying quite a lot for them. Do you have any plant nursaries near you? They would be much cheaper if they sell to the general public.

Im also using grow bags so hopefully they will be good, my Mum swears by them!!
But im sure you are not too late to sow tomato seeds

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I grew tomatoes in the flower buckets from Morrisons last summer they were easy to move around too.

Don't think you are too late to start toms from seeds so don't panic.

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I'm sure you can plant tomato seeds for another month or so yet, I've got my first few seedlings, but plan to plant more every couple of weeks to get a nice continuation of them throughout the summer

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Hiya

Look out for grow bag holders, they allow you to keep your toms upright. I have seen them in loads of garden center's.

Loz

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I'm planning to start some tomatoes on Friday (fruit day) and hope it's not too late. Never had a lot of luck with grow bags, and didn't water enough last year so plan to make up for it this year and feed well too.

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Regards, Jane
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You've still pleny of time to sow tomato seeds, much better than buying young plants - they are dead easy to germinate.

Personally, i have moved away from grow bags as i find them impossible to keep evenly watered, especially when the pants are older and the roots take up all the compost space. Last year i used large tomoto pots (about i foot in diameter) and mixed in some water retaining granules. The pots were much easier to keep watered and the roots had much more space, resulting in massive plants and loads of fruit. A big bucket would also do the job (in fact i might try some in large buckets to compare to the tomato pots).

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Happy Gardening!

Old pants? I might try that too!

Thanks for the tips, I think pots/tubs might be the way forward - especially if watering is a problem.

Many ta's

Agree with the above, defo not too late to plant seeds - planted some more up yesterday and will do some more in a couple of weeks to take me to the end of the season.

Have used grow bags but find the can dry up quickly and the depth of soil isn't good - however they're very good if you go for ring culture as it gives that extra depth and is cheap and easy. You can buy expensive plastic rings but I use the cheapo ones from the garden centre and they're fine.

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haywayne, i agree its not to late to plant seed , i use grow bags but not the thin ones the ones i use are abiout 6" thick and plant 2 in each bag i also use a grow ring i think thats what they call them , plants in center and a water ring around outside, never had any problems, the bags cost 3 for £10 at my garden centre, mick: D

I use grow bags Haywayne for a number of veg and always go for the best I can get. At last that way they are not the thin kind. For tomatoes, I have been growing two per bag, but I don't plant them directly into the bag. I sink a pot with the bottom cut off into the grow bag and fill it with compost, then plant my tomato plant in that. I also sink another small pot beside it for watering. That way you can water the roots and the area around the base of the stem doesn't get washed away.

I have also treated myself to some grow bag holders this year, so hoping they will save me having to tie up the bamboo cane into the eaves of the polytunnel!

Thanks for the tips and pointers peepholes. I'm hoping to get some more seed trays this weekend. Looks like I should get some tomato seeds too - I'm guessing just using the ones from tomatoes bought at the supermarket is not a good idea?

Just noticed Protea, you are also in sunny Bedfordshire. Wherabouts are you?

Was it sunny in Bedfordshire today? i was in Warwickshire all day and up until late afternoon it was miserable!

I'm usually in Shillington - mid Beds - where are you?

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There's vegetable growing in the family, but I must be adopted
Happy Gardening!

Aye, t'was foggy most of the morning, but by about lunch time it started to brighten up.

I'm in Harlington

Foggy aging this morning - really thick stuff too. Hopefully another bright afternoon ahead.

11.55 and its still foggy as anything here - its like winter again!
Harlington is nice - i tend to drive through it on the way to the M1, i popped into Poplars garden centre a week or 2 ago - its lovely! they had some baginous mini-polytunnels/plastic cold frames in the entrance, couldn't resist buying one - oops!

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There's vegetable growing in the family, but I must be adopted
Happy Gardening!

15:15 and here it's a sunny (if a little hazy) day out. Temperature is reported to be 12C, but it feels warmer (when I ventured out of the warehouse earlier).

Looks like it's going to get worse before getting slightly better too, if you believe this lot: http://uk.weather.com/

Growbags are fine, 3 tomato plants per bag but you will need some sort of support system. You can also buy growbags and use the contents to fill large pots, which is what I did last year with excellent results. You're not too late to sow tomato seeds - I did mine 3 days ago as I only have an unheated greenhouse.