If you are going to repot them, i'd buy a grow bag when your at the garden centre, and use that in the pots, i think the quality of growbag compost seems much better than multipurpose which has been terrible recently (there are a few threads about this).
Dotty, you generally get what you pay for with potting mix. It's worthwhile investing in top quality stuff. The cheaper ones can be rubbish. If the "trough" is as small as you seem to be suggesting that could explain why the mix is drying out so quickly.
Beefsteaks grow into big plants - 6' tall or more - with strong root systems. Put them into decent-sized pots with top quality mix. Given that they need to be staked, you'd need pots at least 35cm deep in order to give the stake sufficient mix to hold it up. Too shallow a pot and the stake won't be stable. A strong wind will blow the stake over, taking the plant with it.
Here are a couple of my beefsteak varieties in the ground. They've been in around 5 weeks and have a lot of growing to do yet.
your beefstakes are huge! all three of my plants arnt that bushy at all...i think im too impatient for tom plants haha. ive looked at some greenhouses on ebay, they are about £10 on there for a gardman 4 tier one.
My Black Russian grew to in excess of 7 ft in the greenhouse last year, in fact I had to do some judicial pruning to increase fruit exposure and improve ventilation, oh and not to mention the fact they were getting in the way!
If you have the room a proper GH is the way to go, it's remarkable what you can get in your local area on ebay and gumtree. I often see people offering GH that they have no interest in (have just moved and they don't garden!) for very very cheap, or free if you can dismantle and collect. If you have a helpful husband you'd be amazed what is achieveable even on a very tight budget.
Dotty, mine have been in the ground for 5 weeks and the weather has really warmed up recently into the mid-20s. Ideal growing conditions. They've got a lot more growing to do yet.
Yes, I gather that. Though it has taken a long time to turn up this year. We've had the coldest, wettest spring in decades. What are you doing up so early?
I'm always up at 5.30 on a weekday - put the kettle on, go out into the garden check the toms, courgettes etc, and make sure the hedgehogs have eaten their supper Then I sit down with a coffee, answer emails and noodle on here for a bit before heading off to work ....
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've had a thought- since so many people have queries about tomatoes- the most popular edible I think- how about starting a 'proper thread' just for that alone? Many people struggle with all the conflicting info so perhaps one 'tomato' thread would be helpful.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
If you are going to repot them, i'd buy a grow bag when your at the garden centre, and use that in the pots, i think the quality of growbag compost seems much better than multipurpose which has been terrible recently (there are a few threads about this).
Dotty, you generally get what you pay for with potting mix. It's worthwhile investing in top quality stuff. The cheaper ones can be rubbish. If the "trough" is as small as you seem to be suggesting that could explain why the mix is drying out so quickly.
Beefsteaks grow into big plants - 6' tall or more - with strong root systems. Put them into decent-sized pots with top quality mix. Given that they need to be staked, you'd need pots at least 35cm deep in order to give the stake sufficient mix to hold it up. Too shallow a pot and the stake won't be stable. A strong wind will blow the stake over, taking the plant with it.
Here are a couple of my beefsteak varieties in the ground. They've been in around 5 weeks and have a lot of growing to do yet.
BRANDYWINE OTV:
The first BRANDYWINE OTV fruit:
And PINK GAETANO:
your beefstakes are huge! all three of my plants arnt that bushy at all...i think im too impatient for tom plants haha. ive looked at some greenhouses on ebay, they are about £10 on there for a gardman 4 tier one.
My Black Russian grew to in excess of 7 ft in the greenhouse last year, in fact I had to do some judicial pruning to increase fruit exposure and improve ventilation, oh and not to mention the fact they were getting in the way!
If you have the room a proper GH is the way to go, it's remarkable what you can get in your local area on ebay and gumtree. I often see people offering GH that they have no interest in (have just moved and they don't garden!) for very very cheap, or free if you can dismantle and collect. If you have a helpful husband you'd be amazed what is achieveable even on a very tight budget.
Dotty, mine have been in the ground for 5 weeks and the weather has really warmed up recently into the mid-20s. Ideal growing conditions. They've got a lot more growing to do yet.
And you're in a much warmer climate Italophile
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Yes, I gather that. Though it has taken a long time to turn up this year. We've had the coldest, wettest spring in decades. What are you doing up so early?
I'm always up at 5.30 on a weekday - put the kettle on, go out into the garden check the toms, courgettes etc, and make sure the hedgehogs have eaten their supper
Then I sit down with a coffee, answer emails and noodle on here for a bit before heading off to work ....
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Pfffffffffffft. Call that a day's work?
I've had a thought- since so many people have queries about tomatoes- the most popular edible I think- how about starting a 'proper thread' just for that alone? Many people struggle with all the conflicting info so perhaps one 'tomato' thread would be helpful.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...