pots for tom plants

squiggle37

Hi
someone gave me lots of pots they are 7 1/2inch 3 ltr , was wondering if these are big enough to grown my toms in, was going to use growbags but they take up too much room pots would be better. If these are too small what the best size to grow them in.
thanks for replies
Ange

renard_rouge

The best size would ideally be greater than the 7 inch pots as tomato plants can grow to 6 foot or more, but if you are willing to keep the size down by pinching out the top after maybe 3 trusses of fruit, they should survive well enough. If one considers that the plants really perform best with good nutrition in the soil and an even level of moisture, you can see that smaller pots will dry out quicker. one way around the water problem is if you stand the pots on deep trays 2 - 3 inches deep and fill them with gravel and fill to near the top with water so that the roots seek out their own moisture from below the rooting medium. Are you growing outside or inside. you could also sink the pots into the soil, or if you have lots of pots consider removing the bottoms of some to allow growth directly through the pot (known as "ring" culture). Most tomato plants will need some sort of external or remote support system and that may influence your choice of growing medium.

squiggle37

thanks i am growing them outside on patio at side of wall which is full sun will look for bigger pots, im giving some toms plants to my friend with some pots too she is going to put them on soil so will suggest she removes the bottom of pots.
thanks again
Ange

renard_rouge

Great to see reply. yes the wall and patio will soon have pots drying out as will be like an oven on really hot days. may be worth looking for some shade for really hot days.. ps when the flowers are on the plants a regular spraying will help with pollination, and may also be useful to put pots of water around and also spray the wall to keep that a little cooler

~Chameleon~

What would be the ideal pot size for growing tomatoes in please? I think I'd prefer to try that this year too instead of using growbags

renard_rouge

I have raised 40+ plants so far this year for the family, most being in 7 1/2 pots, but that is for the planting out or otherwise but for myself in greenhouse have 10 inch and my mother has been given 12in pots as will be less worry about watering and also going infront of a wall, therefore hot.

where are you hoping to site plants?

~Chameleon~

I have a spot alongside a shed which gets the sun from sunrise until about 1pm at the height of summer, and a little in the late evening, so would be shaded from blistering heats during the afternoon.

rubiales

Don't know if anyone else is using these but I have planted my tomato plants in supermarket flower buckets (free if you ask nicely in Asda, Tesco etc!). They are easy to punch holes in for drainage and big enough not to dry out too quickly.

BaileyB

I seen a ahow yesterday where they got good size pots cut the bottom out and then stuck that in a growbag. Looked quite good and instead of a cane used string.

longforgotten

I'm thinking its heat toms want then not sunshine ?

savingsara_2

I bought two cheap buckets today (well, not that cheap, Curver! LOL), but they were a fraction of the price of the plastic flower pots of a similar size.

99p instead of £2.49, free from a supermarket would have been better, but the tomato plants haven't cost me anything, so I can't grumble....:rotfl: