Are these containers big enough?

tuffnelljohn · July 2021

Hi all

Ive run out of space in my veg beds! So thought Id try my sprouts/tomatoes/calibrese in containers.

Do you think the plants need bigger containers? If so, I may have to just plant them in the flowers borders!

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Pete.8 · July 2021

In a word, yes, they will need much bigger pots.
Sprouts will grow into very big plants and will need staking too even in the ground to prevent wind rock which will break the roots.
I used to grow tomatoes in pots and I used a 22L pot for each plant - they will also need staking.
I recall Geoff Hamilton many years ago in his Cottage Garden series when he planted all sorts of veg amongst the flowers - it looked really good and the veg suffered no bug attacks as the surrounding flowers attracted so many predatory insects.
In particular Rainbow Chard amongst the flowers looked really good.
The DVD's are cheap and well worth watching

Lyn · July 2021

Tomatoes yes, I don’t think for any brassicas though because they need very firm ground, unless you can step in and tread.

JennyJ · July 2021

I agree with Lyn, the tomatoes will be fine as long as they're staked and fed. I don't grow brassicas but I would think they'd be better in the ground. They have to stand through the winter when it's likely to be windier etc.

Fairygirl · July 2021

I've frequently grown tomatoes in clematis pots, which have less volume than that one. I've got one just now as it was one of the sideshoots removed from the main plants. It's got several trusses of fruit now and will produce a nice wee crop.

tuffnelljohn · July 2021

Just reigniting this thread.

Ive just planted the tomatoes in slightly bigger pots and Ill plant the brassicas in the flowerbeds. Slugs will probably get them, but we'll see.

Ive been giving some young Florence fennel plants. Id like to grow them in containers. How deep do you think the pots need to be? I presume pretty deep because they would have a long tap root?

Nanny Beach · July 2021

Tomatoes in 12 inch pots here always run out of room,veg and flowers in the same beds

Pete.8 · July 2021

I grew Florence fennel once and I don't recall a long taproot, just lots of small roots brom the base of the bulb

Fire · July 2021

Can I ask - it seems wild that you could grow a two metre+ tomato plant in a 20cm tall pot. I've grown them in 50cm tall pot and at the end of the summer the whole thing was a mass of dense roots. Does the plant not suffer from having a smaller root system? Do you just get smaller plants? Do you have to water twice a day? How do you stake plants from the outside?

Thanks

Lyn · July 2021

These seem ok if you need more pots, I haven’t used them myself but reviews are not bad.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SIMBOOM-Non-Woven-Container-Breathable-Vegetables/dp/B07NMTQL9Z/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=Vegetable+Growing+Bags&qid=1626032316&sr=8-6

I have used these, although I bought them from Marshall’s but much the same.
I put 3 tomato plants in each one. You need to make a framework to support canes.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haxnicks-Planter210101-Multi-Purpose-Reusable-42x25x100/dp/B00B2KMOFG/ref=pd_lpo_86_t_0/258-4280221-3668710?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00B2KMOFG&pd_rd_r=8f783b27-51f0-4c28-a114-a52868c9af60&pd_rd_w=6LUZl&pd_rd_wg=lwWpe&pf_rd_p=d05bd3be-6ad4-4468-b3fb-b2079408c7ac&pf_rd_r=XVNSA5CQVVD4BF749M6P&psc=1&refRID=XVNSA5CQVVD4BF749M6P

tuffnelljohn · July 2021

Lyn said:

These seem ok if you need more pots, I haven’t used them myself but reviews are not bad.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SIMBOOM-Non-Woven-Container-Breathable-Vegetables/dp/B07NMTQL9Z/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=Vegetable+Growing+Bags&qid=1626032316&sr=8-6

Ah yes, my mums got these, but the potato planter version where theres a little flap near the bottom to get the potatoes out!

I like the look of that reuseable grow bag planter. Means I can grown veg on the patio!

Are these containers big enough?

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