Toms in the ground ?

[beaufontboy]

Hi guys, I am just sorting out my new raised beds and had left some space for the toms, it then occured to me that maybe they should be in pots, so which is best ? (as i have some large pots spare ) thanks

[binley100]

Last year I had some in the ground , some in pots and some in hanging baskets. All outside as I didn't have a GH then. The only ones that didn't get blight were the hanging basket ones. So I think it's 6 of one half a dozen of the other. If you want the room for other things then put them in pots.

[beaufontboy]

Thanks Binley, think i will try some of both and see ! all mine went with blight last year ! No room for a green house either

[Rocketron]

In the ground is always better than in pots, IMVHO.

[binley100]

, IMVHO.

sorry can't work that one out.

[smallblueplanet]

in my very humble opinion

in the ground is good, in the greenhouse border is better...in biggish pots is okay - it also depends on the weather and how you feed & water them

[Florence Fennel]

I grow all mine in pots (asda flower buckets). I had 20 plants last year, all outside and had a good yield from them. Most of them were sheltered by a south facing wall. I've only got blowaway greenhouses, so their route was windowsill, blowaway, outside. Good luck with them, whatever you decide.

[Tomatoking]

in my very humble opinion

in the ground is good, in the greenhouse border is better...in biggish pots is okay - it also depends on the weather and how you feed & water them

I would second this post. Tomatoes can be thirsty and you have a greater reserve in the soil. The reason most people use large pots, is lack of space or poor soil. If it is a good composted soil, free of disease then it will be fine. After a couple of years you might want to rest it and use it for something else, then use pots.
Commercial growers use peat bags as they want to get the best yeild over a long season, and have automatic irrigation etc.
Basically soil is a lot easier to manage.
Mr TK

[eieio]

I might do a mixture of both this year but use the lottie instead of garden for soil based as I planted far too many in the garden last year. This year was the first time I grew toms but this year when I plant I will be putting in bottles to act as a water resevoir to the roots - will probably do this with the tub ones as well.

[OllieMartin]

Last year I put 5 in the ground and 6 in growbags, the ones in the ground grew far better, but then the grow bags were far too small in hindsight.