Question Growing tomato's in pots

balloo_2

Can anyone tell me i have drilled drainage holes in my Pots/Flower buckets that my toms are going into but do i need to line the bottom with gravel or broken concrete for extra drainage?

tanith

I usually put broken pots in the bottom for extra drainage...

Lotus-eater

Safer to have stones/broken pots etc at the bottom, especially if you are a relative newcomer to growing in pots. It can be easy to overwater and drown a plant, stones will help let the excess out.
Tbh I don't bother anymore, but I do keep a close eye on the moisture in the pot.

misskool

I always line pots, it also means I fill them with that little less soil/compost

Mortal

a good tip is to put broken up polystirene (sp) in the bottom of the pot. It makes for good drainage, helps save compost, and a great way of recycling packaging
I've used all sorts from the stuff that comes with electrical goods to the 'wotsit' shaped 'pellets' that can come with medical supplies (ask you local dentist for some, as they usually just throw them away)

wasbrokegettingbetter

I don't add crocks to tomato pots but have them standing on gravel.
If you use polystyrene to aid drainage you can't put the old compost in the compost bin at the end of the season, or you will be finding them in the compost for years ( how do you think I know this).
A good compost is pretty free draining and will be very hard to overwater.