Tomatoes

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi Darcy,

I don't seem to do to bad, I usually take my Sungold cherry toms to 6 trusses and my non cherry type to 5 trusses and seem to get a reasonable amount of fruit.

[Alison]

Probably the reason T&M have such a bad reputation. Fact you should never let toms dry out. Whilst the plants are growing it will check them. When they are in fruit it will cause the skins to split and worst of all it initiates blossom end rot.

True although I think a lot of people water a small amount all the time. The middle ground between those approaches is best.


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[Scott Hogg]

Hi Scott

It is a good idea to insert a hose into the unopened grow bag and fill with water, then cut a drain hole about an inch or two up the bag after the peat is totally wet, about 24 hours. Other wise it is sometimes difficult to get the bag totally moist. If you have no drain holes then as you water the peat eventually will get moist so cut the small slits then.

The peat should be release water as you squeeze a handful, this a good test for the moisture content. A little and often is the best way to water a grow bag and that rule continues throughout the season and the peat should never dry out, so it takes more work than growing in the soil.

Peat bags do contain some slow release fertiliser so your plants will have a enough to start with, this can be leached out with over watering, especially the nitrogen.

Like have been said, feed when the first trusses start forming, but remember that there is no reserve in a grow bag, unlike the soil, so I would recommend that you feed at least one a week throughout the season. Commercial growers in grow bags feed at every watering, but you will obviously have a lighter crop.

Keep an eye on my blog as I will give tips as the season progresses.

Thanks. Really enjoyed reading your blog. Lots to learn.

[Ja9]

I haven't used grow bags since I ended up with a soggy bottom and rotting plants! I grow in large pots with a mixture of john innes and multipurpose compost. For the last 2 years I have shoot them in a large tray of water. Thought it was odd when a neighbour showed me and was worried about over watering,but the plants thrived and it reduced the number of split fruit considerably . I just chucked the tomato feed into the water.

[darcyvuqua]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]44410[/ATTACH]I haven't used grow bags since I ended up with a soggy bottom and rotting plants! I grow in large pots with a mixture of john innes and multipurpose compost. For the last 2 years I have shoot them in a large tray of water. Thought it was odd when a neighbour showed me and was worried about over watering,but the plants thrived and it reduced the number of split fruit considerably . I just chucked the tomato feed into the water.

Those deep trays are great where did you get them from?

[Scarlet]

I got very similar ones in Wilkins@ns a few years ago in the sale.

[Ja9]

From the malvern spring garden show. Been very useful as I use them for watering my seedlings etc . They had a selection of sizes but sorry can't remember the make