Tomato plant - Please help, newbie without a clue

[CADS]

Hi

I potted my tomato plants into 36cm pots on saturday in Homebase enriched compost but today I noticed a couple of things:

1) The surface of the compost has white bits, possible fungi?
2) The base of the stem on one plants is all bumpy, looks a bit warty.

This is the first time I am growing my own veg so don't have a clue what this might be and how to fix it.

Any tips will be great.
Thanks

[rustylady]

Sorry, I'm not into centimetres. Guessing your pots are around a foot across - that's big, my toms usually end up in 10" pots where they do really well. How big are the plants? The white bits on the surface of the compost I wouldn't worry too much about - it happens when the compost is moist and the air isn't moving around too well. I just stir the surface of my compost around with a cocktail stick or similar and increase airflow so the surface of the compost dries out a bit. The warty bits you describe sound like incipient (lord, big word, means possible or ready to be) roots. Tomatoes have the ability to make new roots from portions of the stem that are either buried in compost or very moist due to air conditions. I think you may have put your tomatoes into big pots a bit too soon, but all is not lost. You need to make sure the compost is kept moist, not wet. Look forward to your reply

[CADS]

Thanks rustlady

I think you might be right about the warts, just noticed a white root-like thing sticking out one of the bumps. Should I add more compost to cover the bumps?

I have it in a 14" (from outside of the rim) pot. The pot is wide at the top but tapers down so I guess the base is only about 7". I thought I had to use the biggest pot possible. The plant is about 14" tall and already has some flower buds. Do you think the size is ok? I have some smaller tomato plants in 3.5" pots and I'm wondering if I should pot them into a bigger pot, but what size? And what is the smallest size pot I can use for final planting place?

I will rake the surface of the compost and try to hold off watering tomorrow. I think I might be overwatering the plants.

[rustylady]

I pot my tomato plants on gradually, from trays to 3" pots, then into 4 and a half or 5" pots, and then into their final quarters - 10" or 12" pots. You can add more compost to cover the rooty bits of stem if you wish and if there is enough space between the surface of the compost and the top of the pot, but it's not absolutely necessary. As for watering you are aiming to make the plants send their roots down into the compost, so don't water too often when the plants are smallish. I stand my pots in large plastic saucers (drip trays) and water into these until it gets hot and the plants get big. The pots then take up what they need.

[CADS]

How long do you leave the pots standing in the water (in drip trays) before emptying the trays? I have been watering every morning from the top (around the base of the stem) because I was worried the roots won't be able to absorb water from the trays because they weren't long enough.

When do you know its time to pot into bigger pots (next size up)? Do you only go from seed tray to 3" then up to 5" then final size? I plant straight into 3.5" pot then move up to 6" then I was going to use 12-14" pots for final position.

Thanks
Carla

[Flummery]

Hi CADS, I grow mine from the seedling stage in a 3.5" pot - most are still in these now and about 10" high. One or two are just showing the first sign of flower buds. I've potted the 3 biggest on onto a 6" pots but some will go straight into the greenhouse border from their small pots. I have too many for my greenhouse (!) so some will be going into 12" pots - eventually. I like to pot on gradually so they'll have a time to form a good rootball in each size before going up to a bigger pot. This stops the compost getting 'sour' from being kept damp but without roots ready to take out nutrients. I'm sure yours will do ok if you're careful with watering.

Flum

[CADS]

Thanks Flummery

How do you know that they have developed a good root ball? The roots of my tomato plants in the 3.5" pots are just start to peek out the bottom (2-4 roots) is it time to pot into bigger pots now? Is this how you know it is time to give them more space? And those it apply to all veg.

Thanks again

[nick the grief]

Knocjk them out of the pot and have a look if there is no soil visible you should have potted them on Make sure the compost is well watered before you do this though otherwise the roots can stick to the sides of the pot and rip.

It's hard to really explain when to pot on it's something that you just pick up. I know that sounds a lame answer but it's true.

We all grow differently I tend to grow things hard ( my chrysanths get out of the pots & fetch there own water my friend says ) and so they are a lot shorter than his.

For example he sprays one particular variety twice with a growth retardant & it flowers at 6-7ft tall I don't spray and it grows to 5ft maximum

[JennieAtkinson]

For example he sprays one particular variety twice with a growth retardant & it flowers at 6-7ft tall I don't spray and it grows to 5ft maximum

Ummm... am I missing something there ?

Oh I see you were confused too ......

[Flummery]

Like Nick, I have no compunction about knocking things out of the pot. It does less damage if done carefully, than over watering or under-potting!

[CADS]

Thank you for the tips.

Off to knock my smaller plants out of their pots.

CADS