Ideal tomato container size

**veggiechicken** · 22-03-2019, 04:04 PM

I grow in bottomless flower buckets resting om a couple of inches of old compost.

**MarkPelican** · 22-03-2019, 04:23 PM

I use Morrisons Flower buckets. The larger ones for Cordons and the smaller for small bush tomatoes (only because I don't have enough large ones). The alternative is a half growbag stood on end which is about the same size. The buckets have holes in the bottom and they're stood in holeless seed trays for watering (water from the bottom, feed from the top).

**Greenleaves** · 22-03-2019, 05:40 PM

When I grow toms I use cheap orange builders buckets from bnq with holes drilled for drainage

**mcdood** · 22-03-2019, 06:27 PM

Thanks all, maybe I'm thinking too large then. My flower buckets (not MFB) are 8L maybe yours are larger? 1/2 a grow bag about 15L. The orange B&Q buckets look to be 12L. I was thinking 30-40L at least. Looks like i can step down in size quite a bit then.

**Bluenowhere** · 22-03-2019, 07:19 PM

Mine are about 25-30 litres. I guess it depend on on how often you can water as to what size to choose. Mine are in polytunnel on allotment and I can only water once a day in the evening. Last year when it was very hot I think any smaller and they would have dried out too quickly for me to keep alive.

**toomanytommytoes** · 22-03-2019, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by mcdood View Post

Thanks all, maybe I'm thinking too large then. My flower buckets (not MFB) are 8L maybe yours are larger? 1/2 a grow bag about 15L. The orange B&Q buckets look to be 12L. I was thinking 30-40L at least. Looks like i can step down in size quite a bit then.

We grow vines in 20L pots in the greenhouse and bushes in 15L pots outdoors. Bigger pots can hold more water so less chance of blossom end rot. 40L is probably overkill in our climate and when you're pruning to a single stem. The suggestions for huge pots you find from a Google search are usually from people living in regions with much longer, hotter growing seasons. However, over at Tomatoville there are people who grow vines successfully in 5-10L pots, you just have to be much more stringent with watering and fertilising.

**SarrissUK** · 22-03-2019, 07:53 PM

I grew in flower buckets last year and with it being such a relentlessly hot summer, quite a lot of toms split because of uneven watering. That's despite watering twice a day lol

This year I'm upping my game in my greenhouse at home, and using ikea bags - the really big blue ones. I have some outdoors that will get used again this year, and I'm getting more for the greenhouse. At 50p a pop, it's a bargain, and I have enough home made compost for three of them I think. The rest will be topped up with rotted horse manure and old compost.

**Thelma Sanders** · 22-03-2019, 08:51 PM

I bought 10 of these last year and with a few holes made in the sides, near the bottom - they were ideal for toms and peppers and at only a �1 each - a real bargain.
Using them again this year, obviously

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-bu...145l/p/0137542

**Bex2012** · 22-03-2019, 09:27 PM

Im another one who uses the b&q buckets (other diy chain versions are available ��)
Also great for carrots. My OH gets cross, he goes to the shed for a bucket and they are full of holes.

**Penellype** · 22-03-2019, 09:30 PM

I grow some in 10 or 11l pots (the Quadgrow pots, which are designed for tomatoes, are 11l) and some in bottomless pots on a Hozelock planter (3 plats to a planter). Despite the water reservoir in the Hozelock, once they get big they need watering every day.

**jackarmy** · 22-03-2019, 09:49 PM

I used to grow my cherry toms in 10l mfbs but really struggled with watering so i invested in some 15l ones from amazon, now its happy days and no worries watering worries anymore, heck of a difference in 5l.

**mcdood** · 23-03-2019, 04:02 AM

Thank you all, great practical advice, as always.

**bramble** · 23-03-2019, 10:50 AM

I stand my pots and buckets in foil trays sold for roasting roasting...get them in the pound store.

**moreteavicar** · 24-03-2019, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by SarrissUK View Post

I grew in flower buckets last year and with it being such a relentlessly hot summer, quite a lot of toms split because of uneven watering. That's despite watering twice a day lol

This year I'm upping my game in my greenhouse at home, and using ikea bags - the really big blue ones. I have some outdoors that will get used again this year, and I'm getting more for the greenhouse. At 50p a pop, it's a bargain, and I have enough home made compost for three of them I think. The rest will be topped up with rotted horse manure and old compost.

How much do you fill the bags and how many plants per bag?

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