Toms actually do better when they're a little stressed. It pushes them to flower, and therefore fruit more quickly. That's why I don't usually water mine until they're just looking a little wilted.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Do you never end up with blossom end rot, @Fairygirl? I suppose I have never tried growing them in a smaller pot - I do tend to err on the side of caution and go with what I've read, I suppose. One thing that did do much better in a bigger than my usual 12" pot last year were courgettes.
The only problem with small pots or beds planted close together is air flow. They do need air flow to keep the dreaded mould or tomato blight at bay. Especially if its a cooler/wetter summer.
I only feed a few times at most. Food is only needed once the first truss of fruit sets. They don't need it before that unless they're in poor soil. Since most folk pot on into new compost, that's rare, but with the problems around compost these days, that may change. Overfeeding is just a waste of money though. I used to feed mine a lot more until the excellent advice on the forum by an experienced grower suggested otherwise. My crops are every bit as good with a lot less feed
Yes - airflow is very important- especially outdoors. I don't have mine outside though, apart from the odd one or two if the summer's drier/hotter than usual, and I remove a lot of old, lower foliage on those indoor ones as time goes on, which helps.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I cannot grow tomatoes outdoors down here in Cornwall because blight is endemic. No problem with blossom end rot under glass. I grow my plants in old compost sacks, rolled down halfway and spiked with a hand fork for drainage holes. I stand them in washing up bowls as drip trays. I also remove lower stems to enable the sun to reach the fruit once trusses have set. I feed with tomato feed fortnightly and have always had good crops. I also always leave the door and window of the greenhouse open permanently during the summer months to allow plenty of air flow.
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It pushes them to flower, and therefore fruit more quickly. That's why I don't usually water mine until they're just looking a little wilted.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I suppose I have never tried growing them in a smaller pot - I do tend to err on the side of caution and go with what I've read, I suppose.
One thing that did do much better in a bigger than my usual 12" pot last year were courgettes.
Courgettes need lots of room, but tomatoes are quite forgiving.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Overfeeding is just a waste of money though. I used to feed mine a lot more until the excellent advice on the forum by an experienced grower suggested otherwise. My crops are every bit as good with a lot less feed
Yes - airflow is very important- especially outdoors. I don't have mine outside though, apart from the odd one or two if the summer's drier/hotter than usual, and I remove a lot of old, lower foliage on those indoor ones as time goes on, which helps.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I grow my plants in old compost sacks, rolled down halfway and spiked with a hand fork for drainage holes. I stand them in washing up bowls as drip trays. I also remove lower stems to enable the sun to reach the fruit once trusses have set. I feed with tomato feed fortnightly and have always had good crops.
I also always leave the door and window of the greenhouse open permanently during the summer months to allow plenty of air flow.