I’ve had great success with growing tomatoes in grow bags but I also add the grow rings/halos which gives you added depth and an ideal space for watering. Here’s a link of the sort of thing I mean … https://images.app.goo.gl/VXT96s2h7iDeWFoR8
The larger the container the better @tuffnelljohn, at least 12 inches in diameter to help manage moisture levels.
What sort of depth should I look at getting @Plantminded ? I do have a 12 inch diameter pot, but it tapers down at the bottom.
@purplerallim : Ive bought Sungold F1. Im on east side of Dartmoor on a valley floor, so its always just a tad colder than other areas. Unfortunately I dont have a conservatory or any warm windows (all my south facing windows have trees just outside!). I dont have anywhere for a 'permanent' greenhouse.
I've grown toms in clematis/rose pots in the past. Obviously, the plants were smaller than they would be in a bigger pot, but they still grew and cropped well. If I remember correctly, I had a couple of spare plants, and due to the plastic gr'house disappearing, or falling apart, I rigged up a short version of it to use. It's not viable to grow them outside here as conditions aren't reliable enough, but those worked fine. I only grow cherry or plum toms, so I don't know how well it would work with larger types.
When I used pots, they were around 10 inches diameter, and probably around 10litre capacity, although I can't be sure without going and measuring. I also found bog standard plastic boxes worked well - I got 2 in the gr'house, as that allowed 2 plants in each one, whereas round pots meant I could only fit 3 plants. The boxes were about 18 inches long, and about 12 in depth, 10 in height. I've only got a small amount of room too, unless I get rid of a lot of other plants, so the gr'houses have always been about 4 feet long, and around 2 feet depth. I now grow them direct into theground, which also give me more vertical room.
I've grown Sungold for many years - very easy in pots.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Your 12 inch diameter pot should be fine @tuffnelljohn if it’s like those ordinary terracotta pots rather than the tall tapered long tom type. I’d only grow one plant per pot though.
I've been searching through my photos but can't find one of my outside toms 🤷♀️ , but this is what I do @tuffnelljohn By the sound of your climate you should wait till April to sow seed, that way by the time they are big enough to transplant it may well be warm enough for them to go outside. Two canes for support and you will be able to pinch out the side shoots and grow a plant that will take the weight of the fruit. Nearest is Tigerella, but the far toms are Golden Sunrise a similar variety.
if you want to use growbags, the best way to use them is to shake them up to make sure the compost is well mixed, then cut them in half widthwise and put them on their ends - so that they're like large pots.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks so much guys! Lots of useful info/tips! Ive just been outside to measure what space I have for a growhouse, and I could probably fit a 2 x 1m growhouse somewhere, which should be enough for at least a couple of plants.
Can't comment on the Growhouse but for tomatoes I use those plastic potato sacks - they have handles and drainage holes in the base. I grow mostly in the GH tho. Once the toms are finished, I empty the sacks ( compost heap or topping up raised beds ) and then start filling them with layers of raw kitchen waste and compost ready for the next season. Topped with compost they produce a good harvest.
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https://images.app.goo.gl/VXT96s2h7iDeWFoR8
@purplerallim : Ive bought Sungold F1. Im on east side of Dartmoor on a valley floor, so its always just a tad colder than other areas. Unfortunately I dont have a conservatory or any warm windows (all my south facing windows have trees just outside!). I dont have anywhere for a 'permanent' greenhouse.
Thanks
When I used pots, they were around 10 inches diameter, and probably around 10litre capacity, although I can't be sure without going and measuring. I also found bog standard plastic boxes worked well - I got 2 in the gr'house, as that allowed 2 plants in each one, whereas round pots meant I could only fit 3 plants. The boxes were about 18 inches long, and about 12 in depth, 10 in height. I've only got a small amount of room too, unless I get rid of a lot of other plants, so the gr'houses have always been about 4 feet long, and around 2 feet depth. I now grow them direct into theground, which also give me more vertical room.
I've grown Sungold for many years - very easy in pots.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
By the sound of your climate you should wait till April to sow seed, that way by the time they are big enough to transplant it may well be warm enough for them to go outside. Two canes for support and you will be able to pinch out the side shoots and grow a plant that will take the weight of the fruit. Nearest is Tigerella, but the far toms are Golden Sunrise a similar variety.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ive just been outside to measure what space I have for a growhouse, and I could probably fit a 2 x 1m growhouse somewhere, which should be enough for at least a couple of plants.
Once the toms are finished, I empty the sacks ( compost heap or topping up raised beds ) and then start filling them with layers of raw kitchen waste and compost ready for the next season. Topped with compost they produce a good harvest.