Tomato Queries

[Helgalush]

Just two very quick tomato-related questions.

1) I have some tumbling toms that I grew from seed. For some I put two seeds in per module as I wasnt sure they would all grow. Some had two very healthy looking plants. Today I have potted them all on, and some have two plants per pot since it was hard to separate them without disturbing all their roots.

Do I need to pull the weaker one out, or will they continue to grow happily alongside each other?


2) Where can I find water-retaining granules/crystals that are suitable for tomatoes and other edible plants? The ones in B&Q looked like they were just for flowers and the assistant said they probably werent suitable.

As I am container growing I think this will help me with my fruity veg as I am finding it difficult as it is to get the water-balance right!

Thanks for any advice.

Helen

[T8Ter]

Do you have an Aldi near you? they have pots of granules for about £4

[Helgalush]

Thanks T8Ter, I dont know where our nearest Aldi is though...

But I have just used the search facility which I know I should have done in the first place (mind not switched on today!) and have found some other ideas to use instead...

Here is the link just in case anyone else wants it:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ets_13636.html

Still not sure about pulling out the weaker plant at 1) though?

[binley100]

Helga the nearest aldi to you is probably the one on the Hinckley Road by the big hotel , just past Asda ..........

[Helgalush]

Oh yeah.....D'oh! Silly me!

Thank you!

[bramble]

Helgalush, you can pull the seedlings apart gently and then pot them on. If you leave them together it will only get harder to seperate them as they produce more roots.
They're not as delicate as they look.

[Helgalush]

Ok thank you

I will do it next time I pot them on then. The only thing is I already have 18 little pots and I think half of them have two in so I will end up with about 26 plants!!!

I dont have space for that many I dont think!!! (This was when I was just starting out and hadnt considered sowing little amounts/successional sowing/saving some for next year! Learnt my lesson!)

[Snadger]

I wouldn't expect water retaining granules to be the answer to all your prayers.
I tried mixing them with compost my tomatoes were in two years ago with detrimental effects.
Early season when the soil is cold and damp anyway, having this extra water resevoir at the roots can actually cause the roots to rot off!

When I lifted my toms, this is what had happened to mine anyway!

[Helgalush]

Thanks for the advice Snadger. I think whats not helping is that I havent actually decided if they are going in hanging baskets or containers...I was thinking the former might need help with water retention.

I'll probably end up doing both since I have so many plants!

[taff]

Ok thank you The only thing is I already have 18 little pots and I think half of them have two in so I will end up with about 26 plants!!!

I dont have space for that many I dont think!!

Welcome to my world...

[Sanjo]

Thanks T8Ter, I dont know where our nearest Aldi is though...

But I have just used the search facility which I know I should have done in the first place (mind not switched on today!) and have found some other ideas to use instead...

Here is the link just in case anyone else wants it:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ets_13636.html

Still not sure about pulling out the weaker plant at 1) though?

If you are really sure that you don't need the extra seedlings - don't pull them up and risk loosening/disturbing the stronger seedlings, just snip the weak ones off with sharp scissors.

[taff]

the longer you leave both of them together, the more they'll compete, and the more difficult it'll be to separate them. Water the compost well before you separate them if you do separate them..
I've never tried growing two together in a pot, it's be an interesting experiment.

[Helgalush]

Eek I still havent dont it and they are growing quite fast at the moment.

Going to have to try separating and/or just snipping the weaker one off very soon!! Oh dear!

[Plot103]

I wouldn't expect water retaining granules to be the answer to all your prayers.
I tried mixing them with compost my tomatoes were in two years ago with detrimental effects.
Early season when the soil is cold and damp anyway, having this extra water resevoir at the roots can actually cause the roots to rot off!

When I lifted my toms, this is what had happened to mine anyway!

I was thinking about using these for hanging basket toms, this year. I appreciate the warning about too much damp and cold early on in the year but with hanging baskets and upside-down planters, could it be possible to carefully mix them in later on, into the upper layers of the compost, at least, and maybe add some more compost on top, just to help bury them a bit?

And does anyone know why they are always recommended for flowers and never veg? I've seen a few different manufacturer's ones on sale but they never mention veg use, though I have never seen any warnings against it either. I wonder if there something about their make-up that makes them unsafe for use with plants for eating?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Tumblers will be quite happy in 6" pots until they are good study plants and usually coming into flower. Being bone idle I line my hanging baskets with plastic sheet from MPC bags then use a knitting needle to form a line of holes at the correct height above the bottom of the basket. As to over watering when these plants start in full production they drink water at pretty much the same rate as an elephant.

Colin.