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Halos

Alan4711Alan4711 Posts: 1,657
in The potting shed
Hi all, I noticed in 2017 the question of halos received no replies, I was hoping if anyone who has actually used them could enlighten me of are they any good or not ?  if so how to use properly as I have acquired 6 of them unused ? to use or not to use that is the question?? Alan

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Is that the thing that goes round a tomato plant? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Never heard of them so, being curious, I googled.   Found this which is a video with a good, clear explanation of how to use them and why.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd6pTFWzTJg

    If I hadn't already got a seep hose for my tomatoes in the polytunnel I may well be tempted to try and get some.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    I use them with grow bags for tomatoes, cucumbers and melons and have done for several years. They make watering much easier.
  • Alan4711Alan4711 Posts: 1,657
    many thanks for all that everyone,can I ask you Singing gardener,How do you judge how much water to put into the halo,is it kept filled with water so it waters the tommies as the compost dries , or fill when drained or measured,the video didnt explain that part ? I dont want to overwater, cheers Alan
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    I'm afraid I'm totally unscientific about watering! At the moment I have an automatic watering system set up because I've been away a couple of times. This waters into the halos for 15 minutes a day . When I want to feed them I turn the waterer off and use a watering can but just slosh in a random amount. I have two sorts of halos. The first has big holes and the water disappears very quickly. In the second the water goes in much more slowly. I haven't noticed any particular differences in growth of plants between the two.
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    I've used these for years too, I think they're great. They really help when planting into grow bags and burying the tomatoes deeper than they could otherwise go. Mine have bamboo cane slots as well, so they solve the support problem too.

    For watering, I make a little gap in the grow bag so I can stick my finger in and feel if it's dry. If they need a water, I'll water directly into the central hole, and then fill the halo about 50% full of water (3 halos per grow bag). They really help getting an even, slow watering that doesn't just wash off, and they're way faster to fill with water compared to regular watering.

    Generally that keeps things comfortable and only needs watering once every 3 to 5 days at this time of year based on plant size, but I've had to water every 2 days in the current heat.

    Highly recommended!
  • Alan4711Alan4711 Posts: 1,657

    Right many thanks for all that info everyone and I will give them a try, if nothing else they will brighten up the G/house as their bright Orange  WHY??

    cheers Alan avgoodenB

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