Toms and g/H border

[jackarmy]

So at my new plot ive a tidy 8x6 greenhouse with the borders dug already.
So my initial thoughts ( as i grow in pots at home) were to go straight into borders.
However when i had a tidy up today there was what i think was couch grass ( the really white roots) which will need removing as best i can i guess.

Anyway, im pondering removing most of the soil from the borders, refilling with new (

bought) compost and growing my toms in bottomless pots, or, as i have to dig down a bit to get out the couch, would you advise just replacing soil and planting straight into borders?, im in new territory here so all advice ref border grown toms welcome ( watering esp)

ta

jack

[sparrow100]

I added 3-4 barrows of manure & half a box of BFB to my very poor g/h border soil when I first set ut up and that seemed to do the trick. I had (still have a bit) loads of couch grass in there, but a thorough weeding got rid of enough and now I just hoik it out when I see it.

I grow the toms straight into the border, not in bottomless pots, and grow up strings to a bamboo set horizontally where wall meets roof, then angled up to another bamboo in the apex. Gives them another 2-3 feet of growth and I get between 7-9 trusses per plant that way. I only had 6 trusses when growing straight up.

I water twice a week in summer - I don't need to do anymore than that unless it's a proper heatwave.

With growing into the border you'll need to replace the soil every 3-4 years (I think). Mine's being shipped out onto the squash patch next year, and I have a mountain of covered turves growing fabulously loamy & ready to go in instead.

I'll be interested to see how others do it too...

[happyhumph]

My new gh is on hardstanding due to getting fed up with the horrendous bindweed issue. However, I used to grow straight into gh borders and always got good results (especially bindweed!)

I used to replace about half the soil each year with homemade compost & a bit of bfb - seemed to work fine.

[johnjohn]

I wouldn't worry about the couch. We have it and along with docks they represent our most invasive weed, so I think we are lucky compared to many. Assuming you are planting out towards the end of April or perhaps later, you have time to get what is currently there in check. I quite enjoy pulling the lengths out (sad I know ) it doesn't take long once you have a little control over it. In my greenhouse we used bottomless pots into grow bags, in the polytunnel we just plant straight into the border, on balance I think it's easier to plant directly.

[burnie]

On a slightly different track, I have horrendous weed problems where I sat my out door raised beds, tree roots couch the lot. To get round this I used a double layer of weed membrane, then new compost, working a treat, sure you could do similar in your greenhouse.

[Thelma Sanders]

When the toms are finished at the end of the year, I dig the roots out with a couple more shovelfuls of soil. I replace it with a mix of garden soil and bought compost, ready for the planting of winter greens and then the next year's toms.

[Bren In Pots]

I do similar to Thelma only difference I replace what I've dug out with compost from my dalek. seems to work for me.

[burnie]

When the toms are finished at the end of the year, I dig the roots out with a couple more shovelfuls of soil. I replace it with a mix of garden soil and bought compost, ready for the planting of winter greens and then the next year's toms.

What winter greens do you grow in the green house Thelma?

[Jimmy]

I have a small border down the outside of my greenhouse, about 1 foot wide.
I covered it with black ground cover and grew toms in holes.
Seemed to keep the weeds down.
And the toms like it right next to the GH.
Jimmy

[Thelma Sanders]

Spinach, Chinese greens do well, some winter lettuce/rocket/lamb's lettuce.

[MarkPelican]

I do much the same as Thelma, I pull up/dig out the tomatoes with a spadeful of soil and then replace it with compost from the compost heap. I grow lettuces, rocket and chinese leaves in the tunnel overwinter

[bario1]

I bung Spring cabbage seedlings in once the toms come out. They sit over winter and start bulking up now for early greens.

[sparrow100]

Wish I were as organised as you lot. My g/h gets used to shelter a few pots, but that's it till Feb's sweet pea sowings.

[MarkPelican]

One thing I have found to be good is to use a "living salad" from a supermarket. It saves having to remember to sow lettuce seeds in about August when everywhere is full and there's less time. They also grow a mix of leaves, just break them up and plant them out.

[jackarmy]

Thanks all, guess ill dig most of it out and yes ( cant remember the name of whom right now) i will chuck a wee covering of weed supressent down there. Still undecides as to direct or via cut off buckets, still, plenty of time yet