Growhouse for tomatoes

tuffnelljohn · 4 March

Hi

Ive bought cordon tomato seeds by accident. (I usually grow bush tomatoes in containers).

I dont have a greenhouse, so looking for a solution that keeps the tomatoes sheltered.

What do you think of growhouses such as https://www.christowhome.co.uk/tomato-growhouse-double?gad_source=1 . Are they flimsy and easily blow away? Do tomatoes grow ok in grow bags? (I tried it once and the tomatoes didnt really do anything!)

Thanks

Fairygirl · 4 March

They're fine short term and as long as you attach them securely to a wall or fence.

I've never used growbags - I used pots, filled with a standard compost, when I had one of those g'houses on a hard surface.

ViewAhead · 4 March

I've had two of those growhouses over the yrs. They are pretty flimsy and definitely would need securing to a fence or similar. Worth a go though. 🙂

Plantminded · 4 March

As well as securing it to a fence or similar, put something heavy inside too like bricks. Mine blew away despite being secured to the fence! I've tried growbags and pots, pots give better depth for root growth and make it easier to monitor watering. If you do go for growbags, make sure you make drainage holes, ideally in the sides to help them drain better.

Fairygirl · 4 March

I never weigh them down - the slightest hole in the cover, and the whole thing rips off and disappears into the wild blue/grey yonder...and yes - that has happened to me!

I use old washing line, and still do for the polycarbonate one I have - fastened to vine eyes in the wall, and taken round the top of the main part of it - to give the most secure position. Or, you can make 2 holes and fasten to the inner frame [remembering about not weighing down the base

] but the tomato ones don't have that, so you can only do it with other types that do.
The poly c. ones are a bit tougher, and you can put small vine eyes on the frame to thread the line through.

tuffnelljohn · 4 March

Hmmm, I feel an A/B split test coming on! One plant in a grow bag, and another in a container! What container (depth/width) do you think I should get?

Plantminded · 4 March

That's interesting about not weighing down the base @Fairygirl, it seemed to help with mine! I got rid of mine very quickly as I don't like the look of them and don't have a sunny area that's not in full view from the house!

Plantminded · 4 March

The larger the container the better @tuffnelljohn, at least 12 inches in diameter to help manage moisture levels.

barry island · 4 March

If you grew non determinate tomatoes as a bush by pinching the top out and letting the side shoots grow would they produce tomatoes, I seem to remember Carole Baxter saying that her father never pinched side shoots off and that the plants grew just as well?

diggersjo · 4 March

I've used similar plastic with a thin hammock belt around it to secure. Mainly for chillies early on in the year, but a single tom or 2 . Toms have been okay, but not great and had better success with fleece around a 60cm pot.

purplerallim · 4 March

The tomato seeds available today are not like the old seeds used to be @barry island They have been bred to try to cope with present conditions.
@tuffnelljohn could you tell us which toms they are, and what part of the country you are in, it makes a difference. Myself in the east midlands ( Lincolnshire) cannot put toms uncovered outside till mid May, but in a blow away , as we call them 😁, they can go out late April. I only plant toms and cucumbers in the square garden tubs, as my mobility is compromised, 30 to 45cm wide. I grow the seeds in my conservatory and pot them on once or twice before they go outside. I do grow in a greenhouse too. Pinching out the tops will make the side shoots grow, but they might not be strong enough to take the weight as they are not bred for this way of growing. Depends on the variety.

Growhouse for tomatoes

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