Hey Tomato Junkies! How do you grow them in pots?

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Over on the Confessions of a Tomato Grower thread, I noticed the mention of growing plants in pots to haul in for an extended harvest. Last year, I got very few ripe tomatoes due to the cool summer, although the Patio tomatoes I grew in an Earthbox were the only ones that did get ripe (under a hoop house cover too).

But Earthboxes are HEAVY to move, and hard to get into the house to try and ripen a few. What are your methods for growing them in pots (such as, how big a pot do you use, black or white?, do you use a saucer under them or let them drain?, things like that), and what varieties are you growing in pots.

I also grew some Tumblers in hanging pots that riped pretty well in the hoop house, but by the end of the summer they were so dried out and exhausted, there was nothing left to bring inside. (having gotten dried out badly one weekend I was away seemed to really put them out for the count).

Any suggestions?

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001

Answers

Julie-I'm off to Walmart(yeah,that place) to buy some more big terra cotta looking plastic pots for my tomatoes.I have just a few too many plants right now.Don't know how it happened.:oD

Anyway I found huge ones there for $5 last year and that's what I use.Will tell you more later.Gotta get going!

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001


Hi Julie, I used the same ones that Sharon used. Outside no saucer, of course inside you need something under them.

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001

I build my planters out of cedar and put those cheap wheels on the bottom. You can then easly roll em where ever. I use mine a lot on my lemon trees so I can get them out fast if it gets cold. With rollers you can build bigger planters. Mine are about 18 in wide and deep...Kirk

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001

5 gallon plastic pickle or bulk laundy soap buckets work great. Clean em with lots of hot water to rid the vinegar or soap residue and drill a few drain holes in the bottom for drainage. I go as far as using those big sport bottle straws glued in the holes as drain extentions to a cup when I bring em in. The bucket is also big enough to support a stake or cage. I usually keep fresh 'maters until Feb by playing bee to my six plants with a cosmetic brush (Lynn says I look real cute with my brush and holloween floppy spring antennea on "ala' Satuday Night Live Not Ready For Prime Time Players" :>)

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001

Lynn, you have got to get a photo of that!!!! Like the bucket idea Jay, will remember that one.

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001


Oh goodie!! I was wondering if a 5-gallon would be big enough to accomodate them. We have tons of used feed supplement buckets at the barn that we use for carrying water, until they develop a leak, and then they usually get thrown out. No reason they can't take on yet another life as tomato planters!!

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001

I'd try the Walmart planters that Sharon and Diane mentioned. Put the seedlings in the planters immediately and feed with manure tea occasionally. Should work...in fact I'm going to try it myself!! My husband tried to dig up a tomato plant last fall to bring inside. He planted it in one of these big planters. Didn't do well. But I think it should be planted into the planter first thing.

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001

My guess is that by the end of the growing season, there wouldn't be enough light for the plants to keep on doing well. In addition to all the suggestions above, I'd advise putting the plants under grow lights. A big plant will use up the nutrients in potting soil pretty fast too, so keep fertilizing (with your favorite organic liquid manure).

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001

Yep,lots of good suggestions here. I like the bigger containers bc I'm unbelieveably bad abt.remembering to water.Only house plants I grow anymore are cacti. Not joking.

And containers dry out FAST. I use soilmoist,but only once the soil is warm,otherwise it makes the soil stay way too cold.Learned that one the hard way.Truthfully don't know if that product is considered approved for organic.Anyone know? Will have to check into it.

I also squeeze in a pepper,a basil,and a flower or two in the container. I love to double or triple crop.And I need to have flowers.

We fertilize with a weak solution of fish fert and kelp everytime we water.I don't know if Nick puts in anything else,he might.

Nick had read not to long ago that the recommendation is to take a sprig off the mother plant and root it, for your winter crop.Supposed to result in a more vigorous plant.Have not tryed it personally yet.Try it and let us know how it turns out.

We have kept them over in the past,but production goes definitely down.Plants get pretty scraggly,too.David's suggestion would help,I would expect.

And Jay Bee,we must most definitely see a picture of you playing pollinator ;o) Do you wear a gold and black striped jersey,too? What's Lynn have to say about these extracuricular activities of yours,huh?

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001


Oh,I forgot-I put my determinates in the pots,The indeterminates get too big.

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2001


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