Tomato plants in Grow bags not looking happy.

demented_2

Hi, We have got some tomato plants growing on the allotment in a smallish growbag the tomato's don't look very happy. There are some tomatoes coming on but the soil isn't very deep. The OH has put some soil ontop of the plants, but that hasn't really helped. Do you think that if we dug some holes in the allotment and carefully transplanted the tom's that would be ok not wishing to kill them off. Just thought that i would ask you guys before doing it. Hope someone could advise us please. Thank you.

oldMcDonald

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but have you been feeding them?

IIRC then gro-bags are supposed to only last for a few weeks before you need to add a feed every now and then.

Is the problem that the leaves are yellowing? Are they turning brown and falling? Could there be any blight?

I had one of my tomatos in pots go brown and die in less than 24 hours, turned out my son - who was in charge of watering them - decided to pour half a bottle of tomato feed on it to 'give it a boost'!

ALWAYS_POOR

I've grown tomato plants in gro-bags a few times. They've always done quite well but the weather has been particularly hot this year and if the gro-bags are quite small they could be drying out too quickly too often. I would remove some of the larger leaves because they could be taking the nutrients and !!!!! out the top of the plants. They do need to be fed (although not overfed).

If I were you I would transplant one or two first to see how they get on, if they look ok in a few days then transplant the rest.

Good luck!

(I always have trouble with clematis, very fickle plants, I've lost count of how many I've bought over the years!)

twink

clematis need a lot of water and like their roots kept cool with a mulch or such like, i never had much joy either until the rone was dripping down beside it and it did really well that year

Raksha

I'd suggest the feeding route too. I bought some deeper special tomato bags this year, and the plants really are looking a lot better than with the normal bags. I have then rigged up to a drip system so they get watered once or twice a day, and this seems to suit them well too.

windym_2

You need to feed (as most of the other posts say) and ensure that in this hot weather you water well. If you cut the bottom off a plastic milk carton you can tip it upside down and plant it next to the tomato plant. Then when you water, just tip the water into the end of the milk carton and the water will go straight to the roots of the plant.

exel1966

Have just had my first attempt at growing Toms using a growbag and am very pleased with the results. Picked approx 20-30 last weekend and ate the last one earlier today. Don't they taste soooo much better when you've grown them yourself !!!

Had three different varieties (two cherry + one regular) in the same growbag (which apparently is NOT advisable) but it doesn't seem to have had a negative effect. At least another 30 will be ready to pick very soon along with many more flowers showing through.

I fed mine weekly, but watered them every day without fail !!!

Just one question though :- When is the best time to pick ? When ripe OR when orange (nearly ripe) or when still green ?

demented_2

oldMcDonald wrote:

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but have you been feeding them?

IIRC then gro-bags are supposed to only last for a few weeks before you need to add a feed every now and then.

Is the problem that the leaves are yellowing? Are they turning brown and falling? Could there be any blight?

I had one of my tomatos in pots go brown and die in less than 24 hours, turned out my son - who was in charge of watering them - decided to pour half a bottle of tomato feed on it to 'give it a boost'!

HI, Yes we have been feeding them with that miracle grow feed about every 2 weeks. we think that possibly they should have been fed every week really. We are going to transplant one plant and see what that does.
I think that the growbags which were really cheap aren't big enough.
Thanks for your help.... and loved the bit about your son.. shame about the plant though, its gone to the great Tomato sauce in the sky. can't spell Ratatollite.

demented_2

exel1966 wrote:

Have just had my first attempt at growing Toms using a growbag and am very pleased with the results. Picked approx 20-30 last weekend and ate the last one earlier today. Don't they taste soooo much better when you've grown them yourself !!!

Had three different varieties (two cherry + one regular) in the same growbag (which apparently is NOT advisable) but it doesn't seem to have had a negative effect. At least another 30 will be ready to pick very soon along with many more flowers showing through.

I fed mine weekly, but watered them every day without fail !!!

Just one question though :- When is the best time to pick ? When ripe OR when orange (nearly ripe) or when still green ?

HI, i meant to answer your question the last time i posted. but got carried away with myself.. I do know this. The best time to pick Tomato's are when they are red or ripe but you can still pick them at the orange stage and put a ripe tomato in with them. They will still ripen. You can also pick them when they are green and make Green tomato chutney, but thats best left until the time that the weather gets colder or if your up to your kneck in Ripe tomatoes. Which we are not. lol.

Lord_Gardener

Remember main care for tomatoes is watering feeding and supporting all of which need to be done correctly. Tomatoes don't root deeply and are therefore ideal for grow bags. If the plants are have fruit already they may not take the transplant. Although it's important to feed once first fruit is set it's just as important to not overfeed, likewise with watering - many people don't pierce drainage holes in growbags before planting and then over water - check this is not the case! Check also for root/foot rot caused by irregular watering causing a weakening of the plant allowing a fungi to attack plant causing stem and leaves to discolour - this may eventually kill the plant! Also check for pests such as aphids (white fly) under leaves - pick or blast off with very dilute soapy water.