Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Minibel Tomatoes

LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
edited June 2023 in Plants
Morning all



I currently have these Minibel Tomatoes growing in small seed/cutting pots. They are a cherry tomato variety and I plan to grow them in pots. 

Do I need to put these into 9cm pots for a little while until they area bit bigger or should I just put them straight into the final pots now? 

I plan for them to go into these:



Thanks!
I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
«1

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Not the big pots yet … the compost will just be cold and wet around them and the roots won’t want to reach out. A little while in 9cm pits will get them growing more strongly. 

    Don’t forget to bury the stem nice and deep so it grows extra roots. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes, it'll be fine in the pot shown.
    Just be careful not to overwater until the roots have a chance to grow.
    Now Summer has arrived at last they'll grow quickly.
    I planted mine the greenhouse border on Monday, they've grown about 6" in the last week.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2023
    Oh!  Just for once we disagree @Pete.8 😂 

    My thoughts were that as Minibel is a dwarf tomato it won’t be growing as big and quickly as a ‘normal’ sized tomato plant.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Oh well there's a first time for everything Dove 😁

    I've not grown that variety before, but have grown Maskotka (very nice) and Tumbling Tom (tasteless) in pots.
    If find when it heats up they grow very quickly and the roots would soon fill the pot.
    I wouldn't treat peppers the same as they do need to be potted on gradually.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    Thank you both! I've got quite a few plants so maybe I'll do both, stick some in 9cm pots and some in the bigger ones. 

    One more question, when I pot on should I mix some garden compost in with the MPC? Perlite or Vermiculite? Grit? 
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    What’s the MPC that you have like?  It’s so variable at the moment. I’ve found that mixing in  a bout one third garden topsoil works for me but of course you do have to keep your eye out for weed seedlings. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited June 2023
    I don't grow them in pots any longer, but when I did I used a mix of (very roughly)-
    30% garden compost, 30% MPC, 30% well-rotted horse manure and about 10% perlite/grit.
    I also add a generous handful of Vitax Q4 (for 22L pot)
    I use the same mix for my cucumber which I grow in a 22L pot in the g/house.
    It's about 18" now with about 20 little fruits that are swelling rapidly now :)



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    Dovefromabove said:
    What’s the MPC that you have like?  It’s so variable at the moment. I’ve found that mixing in  a bout one third garden topsoil works for me but of course you do have to keep your eye out for weed seedlings. 
    I had some melcourt which seemed pretty good but more recently I picked up three bags from Aldi which are much woodier. I've only just used it though so not sure how stuff is going to grow in it yet. 

    I've got some bagged topsoil, I think, can I replace garden soil with that?
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d use bagged topsoil in preference if you have it  … shouldn’t have as many weed seeds as my garden soil. 🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • alexryzawlskiqBU-X4OFalexryzawlskiqBU-X4OF Posts: 163
    No fighting @Dovefromabove and @Pete.8 lol  :p
    Happy Gardening
Sign In or Register to comment.