Comment

Comment by Todd Allen on September 1, 2011 at 7:03am

Shay, potting soil works better for plants that don't need a lot of moisture.  If you wet it heavily it will get waterlogged with insufficient open pore space for good gas exchange.  If you have enough drainage that it won't get water logged it is prone to rapid drying.  It may work ok with a well tuned drip watering system that can keep it evenly moist but you'll have an easier time with a soil free potting mix.

 

Also, this year was particularly challenging.  We went rather abruptly from a cool wet spring into a hot and somewhat dry summer.

 

Comment by Todd Allen on September 1, 2011 at 3:11am

I didn't get more specific than 'large' because I don't believe there is a magic size.  But the bigger the container the easier it will be to get a good result.  Larger containers will dry out slower and can get by with less perfect soil mix and fertilization.  For most though a lack of growing space, storage space or the need to move containers around will limit how large they can go.

 

And it depends on the variety of tomato.  There are some that a 5 gallon bucket will be sufficient and others that may be cramped in a 50 gallon barrel.

 

As for growing support, again larger is usually better.  The three legged, three ringed, 2-3 foot tall (above ground) typical tomato cages are only appropriate for the smallest varieties.  We make our own tomato cages from 6" rebar mesh up to 24 inches in diameter and up to 7 feet in height.

Comment by Shay on September 1, 2011 at 3:05am

Thank you for the advice, Chris and Todd.  I grew my plants this year in 5-gallon paint buckets with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage, with organic potting soil.  I'll try regular plants and your suggestions next year.  :)

Comment by Todd Allen on August 31, 2011 at 6:16am

Yes larger tomatoes can be grown in containers though it is more challenging then growing them in the ground in good soil.

 

Use a large container.  Don't use straight soil but rather a mix with a lot of organic material, such as peat, compost or well aged horse manure.  If you go with a peat based mix you'll need a generous amount of slow release fertilizer.

 

Keeping the container media appropriately moist can be difficult.  A watering system or a self watering container can be helpful.

Comment by Shay on August 31, 2011 at 5:26am

Anybody know if you can plant regular tomato plants in containers?

This was the first time I've ever tried to grow tomatoes and since I have no yard, they had to be planted in containers.  So, I bought three varieties of tomatoes especially for containers.  They did well and are producing fruit, but the tomatoes are all so small - only about the size of a golf ball or a little bigger (NOTE: they are NOT cherry tomatoes, so that's not it).  

I'm just wondering if I can plant regular tomato plants in containers next year to get regular-sized tomatoes?

Comment by Duppie on August 30, 2011 at 12:16pm

Free to a good home:

a five gallon bucket with a healthy looking bush rose. Unknown variety.

 

PM me if you are interested. I live in Andersonville

Comment by Erin on August 23, 2011 at 6:41am

Thanks, Monica! I will plant, water and see what happens. :-)

Comment by Monica Louise on August 22, 2011 at 6:23am

My friend says Yes, you can plant them now.  Fall is a good time to plant.  Be careful that the plants get enough water.  They'll be nice and strong when they come up in the Spring. 

Comment by Erin on August 21, 2011 at 4:02am

Les -- Thanks so much; very helpful!

Comment by Les Kniskern on August 21, 2011 at 2:55am

Building a Local Food System

Session II

Thursday, August 25 @ 6:30pm

http://neighborhoodnutritioncenters.org/building-a-local-food-syste...

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