Growing tomatoes by ring culture

[rary]

I usually grow my tomatoes in a raised bed in the greenhouse the bed is made up by a layer of soil then homemade compost an other layer of soil then a layer of seaweed topped of by more soil would there be any advantage in growing them using ring culture

[veggiechicken]

I always grow mine in bottomless pots of compost sitting on a shallow bed of old compost.
Is that what you mean by "ring culture"?

[bikermike]

Does it mean you play of lots of Wagner to them?

(I hope you harvest to Ride of the Valkyries...)

[veggiechicken]

Just call me Brunhilde ?sp.

[rary]

Yes I suppose that's the way I was thinking of, but with how my bed is made up I was wondering if it would be any benefit growing that way

[veggiechicken]

No idea rary but I've always grown toms this way and it works for me. The roots spread out of the pots into the soil beneath and you water this soil, and feed the pots.

[rary]

I might try growing 2 plants that way then see how they fair in comparison to the others

[veggiechicken]

Will they be in a GH or outdoors?

[burnie]

Post number 91 shows my set up
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...nhouse-12.html

[Mamzie]

I have severe greenhouse envy here VC

[rary]

Will they be in a GH or outdoors?

They will be in the greenhouse I never have much success with growing outside

[veggiechicken]

How do you usually grow them in the GH? Is the raised bed something new/different this year?

[rary]

I have had the raised bed in the greenhouse for a few years now (a few means I forget when I put it in) and I put it in rather than using grow bags as I can grow more plants in the same space, plus its cheaper, not that that's a consideration and I changed the soil at the end of last year putting the soil that I had made from lots of shredded material and course sand, (you may remember when I was posting about that VC, you made one or two comments about it) into it and while making the bed up I added the home made compost and seaweed, but while reading the latest GYO magazine I noted an artical about growing by ring culture and wondered if it would be any advantage growing that way

[veggiechicken]

I use growbags to fill the ring culture pots - the compost goes further that way and its easier to keep the plants watered.
At the end of the year, I lift the "rings" off the bed and spread the used compost on top. Over time the beds get deeper, the sides are raised. Some are deep enough for carrots now.
I can't comment (for a change) on the contents of your "bed" but I use fresh compost for the toms each year.
PS I haven't read the article as it wouldn't change the way I do things.

[burnie]

Are you practising crop rotation rary, my three main crop are tommies, sweetcorn and butternut squash, I rotate them each year so I only grow the same crop in one position every 3 years.