To growbag or not to growbag

[Sonata]

My tomatoes (Gardener's Delight) are only about 6" tall now (grrr, I sowed them in March!), but I'm wondering what to grow them in. I got some growbags as my FIL told me that's what you do, but they look so shallow, even if you turn them on their sides, that I don't think they'll support the root system enough. Or will they?

Would I be better off growing them in pots with the growbag compost? I've also got a reusable growbag, but would have to fill that with loads more compost..would that be a better bet?

[ann-the-nan]

To growbag or not to growbag.

Nice to know someone's toms are 6". Put mine in the same time and they are about 2".....well, the tallest one is. Maybe there is hope yet.

[starloc]

Ive just planted mine in morrisons flower buckets ( as i need to be bale to move them and growbags dont move easily), but it may be better to use the ring growing method with the plants in the large pots on top of the growbag with the bottom chopped off the pots to let the roots out to the growbag
When planting plant the stems down a bit and more of the stem will root, the plant will grow far quicker once in a larger pot as it can grow larger roots

[rana]

Gardeners' delight is best grown as a cordon - ie. pinch out all side shoots allowing just the main stem to continue upwards. The resulting plant will be pretty tall so it will need support, particularly when bearing fruit. A shallow growbag will give very little purchase for the plant and organising adequate support around a growbag can be awkward. It may be easier for you to grow in pots which will also be easier to water. IMHO cordon tomatoes are not suited to growing in growbags.

[podfather]

hear people talking about morrisons flower buckets may sound stupid but do you ask at the local morrisons for them and how big are they

[gojiberry]

I grow mine as per Starloc. The pot on top makes it easier to water and also gives each plant their own bit of growing space. When planting I scoop out a planting hole right to the bottom of the growbag and then fill in with MPC till eventually the pot is full to within half inch of the top. The tomatoes are then in a depth of about 10/12" of compost.

Ian

[Sonata]

My reusable growbag has a depth of about 12", but like someone said, perhaps pots would be better.

Yep, I was planning on growing these as cordons, which is why I was thinking that growbags would be foolishly shallow for them.

Ann, I agree, everyone seems to be talking about huge flowering tomatoes already - it's enough to make you green for all the wrong reasons!

Hmm, yeah, I look at Morrison's online, are the flower buckets in their grow your own section? I'm off to Canterbury where there is one on Wednesday, so might pick up a few.

[starloc]

The flower buckets seem to be in nearly every store , by the plants, but also close by the cut flowers, they sell the cut flowers in them, once sold they stack the buckets into lots of about 8 with tape on them priced at 8 for 99p, they are usualy under a small table with something like plants or hanging baskets on,
if you cant see them ask customer services as most stores will do them as its a good way of getting shut of waste without them paying for them

[Madasafish]

I use growbags making wooden supports about 1 metre high to from scrap wood...I add water retaining gel and crushed eggshells to the bags and plant the tomatoes in bottomless pots on top of the growbags.. - thus ensuring a deeper root system

[Kath]

I have always grown my tomatoes in grow bags but after reading the comments of the experienced people on here I am now not sure what to do. Is there any real reason why you can't grow them in the greenhouse border? I know my Dad used to do this before growbags were invented. I know he also used to dig his greenhouse out every so often and 'sterilized 'the soil. I can't remember how he did this bit though!.My greenhouse is little..just 6x8.I now could do with one twice the size!

Are the flower pots big enough for tomatoes do you think?

[hamsterqueen]

I always grow my tomatoes in the ground. We have a clay soil her and they grow wonderfully.

[starloc]

I have always grown my tomatoes in grow bags but after reading the comments of the experienced people on here I am now not sure what to do. Is there any real reason why you can't grow them in the greenhouse border? I know my Dad used to do this before growbags were invented. I know he also used to dig his greenhouse out every so often and 'sterilized 'the soil. I can't remember how he did this bit though!.My greenhouse is little..just 6x8.I now could do with one twice the size!

Are the flower pots big enough for tomatoes do you think?

The problem with growing in the ground is desiese/virus build up, sterilising the soil works but now most chemicals that work are banned so most grow out of the floor in pots/growbags etc

[Suky]

I use the half growbag method. Grab the bag in the middle and give a good shake until the compost is equally at either end, cut in half and stand each on its end. Better qualith bags have too much compost in so need to remove some. Place in postion and plant tomato. Has worked for me so far but they do have a supporting frame too.