Tomatoes in bags

valk_scot

I use the orange builders buckets they sell in B&Q at the front door, I think they're a pound or pound-fifty atm? You need to put a few drainage holes in them at the sides, just above the rim. But they're a good size and sturdy.

I have greenhouse envy too. I have a good amount of greenhouse space this year as I added a tacky plastic one as an extension to my regular one but yeah gawds, it looks dreadful. Functional though, cheap to do and I tied it down really securely with a couple of dozen extra guying points so it's stayed put through some horrific weather. But I want a nice one.

Pixiechic

I had to 'decant' the compost in the ripped bag into two empty compost bags! Thankfully, I save the empty compost bags!

I have an old small wooden 'greenhouse' which was in need of repair, I did a good job fixing it though. It's come in handy but I need a nice bigger one

Now that the tomato issue has been sorted (I hope), I now have to tackle the army of slugs that have eaten half the tops of my radishes and half the leaves on one strawberry plant :eek:.

Thankfully, I have more radish growing in a container too

wattapain

I too am plagued by the slimy critters - I don't like using pellets, and none of the other methods work for me. So I use nematodes - get them online, then water in. works for me - i only use 1 application, and has been ok so far.

Pixiechic

Thanks, I might look into them, preferably before I plant my other plants in the ground! How do nematodes kill the slugs?

I don't want to pick slugs up yuk!

Seems options are, drown them in beer, pick them up and squash them, make them shrivel with salt, pellets make them swell up or produce too much slime and die (sounds painful).

I just need to keep my produce in mind and ignore the guilt maybe............

wattapain

The nematodes come in different types- for different pests. i use the Nemaslug ( no- brainer lol)
They are small organisms - they come in a powder which you mix with water and water them into the problem area. The are ingested by the slugs, and swell up - killing them, by preventing them from feeding.
Sounds a bit gross, but it works, and like you I don't want deal with dead slugs. and if they are poisoned by pellets, you will.
Or worse the poisoned slugs get eaten by birds - that won't be good.

Pixiechic

Thanks wattapain, found the site online, they sound like the best option and wildlife and cat friendly!

I don't want a bird to eat a slug that I poisoned :eek:

Thank you my crops might stand a chance now as the rate at which the slugs have mobilised themselves so far is shocking :cool:

cyclonebri1

macma wrote: »

We grow tomatoes in compost or rubble bags.We used to split grow bags in half and saddle bag them.We never found 3 to a grow bag very successful

How do you saddle bag a bag and grow 3 toms equally?

But, given the space you have, why not toms in pots over gravel?

Same cost, and yield.
Same amount or even less compost and much neater/

Mabsabrabcab

The only method of stopping slugs that I have found really works is copper tape. Grow plants in pots and put a ring of copper tape round the outside of the pot. Apparently it gives the slugs/snails an electric shock if they try to cross it. I've grown hostas in pots this way without a single hole in the leaves - they are shredded if I put them in the soil. I also put collars of cut plastic bottles with copper tape round around vulnerable small plants which seems to help.

Reels of sticky backed copper tape are available from garden centres, B&Q etc for about £5.

wattapain

Nah never worked for me. Nematodes the only one that did.

pantherchick

I love your ideas. I love to see the green house looking so healthy too. wish I had the time to grow more.... hopefully one day will have a green house too.