Gardeners World way of growing tomatoes

[AkionTotocha]

You could try using 2ltr bottles I guess... In fact, I might try it as an experiment....

[Zenithtb]

Well, in the 'bottle' method, the reservoir allows you to water heavily, and in the heat it evaporates through the compost, moistening it. I know >I< certainly did not water daily.

I did not use the method to save compost, but for space reasons.

Also, as a side note - the roots grew through the 'stab' holes and into the water below

[Potstubsdustbins]

Am I missing something here? I find it very hard to use compost, deplete it yes use it no.

If you use a correctly sized container you will have a better root system which therefore can take up the nutrients required for the plant more easily.

At the end of the year you collect the depleted compost out of the root ball and save it. Next year you refresh it with fertiliser of your choice and reuse it. It hasn't gone anywhere so you haven't used it.

This years peas are growing in compost used last year to grow spuds, they seem to be doing OK.

Potty

[Paulieb]

With regards to Monty's test this week he is referring back to Episode 25 of last year when he went to meet a Vegan Gardener. I know as this is the only Gardenerrs World show that I have saved for reference on my Sky+. Definately worth a watch if possible?!?

He fed his toms daily with one of either comfrey tea, nettle tea or wood ash tea (for general, nitrogen or fruit ripening respectively). This guy only half filled his buckets but I guess thats all they need when being fed daily.

[Paulieb]

....and stolen from the gardeners world website.......

Monty was certainly impressed by the quality of Richard Sandford’s organic tomatoes. So what’s the secret of his success? Here are a few tips from the man himself.

All of Richard’s plants are grown in 25cm (10in) terracotta pots half-filled with his own compost. The pots are placed directly onto the sandy floor of his polytunnel where the roots are allowed to grow through the drainage holes in the bottom. Half-filling the pots means that there is a plenty of room for water to drain through. Pots are spaced 30cm (12in) apart to ensure good air circulation.

Richard also likes to train his plants at an angle to reduce the risk of the leaves being splashed by water. It also allows the fruit to hang down away from their support which, in turn, makes them less likely to be damaged.

Now, for the feeding. Monty was clearly surprised that Richard fed his plants every day. This requires some dedication! And furthermore, he makes all three feeds himself! Nettle feed is high in nitrogen and is used to boost leaf growth at the start of the season. Comfrey feed, on the other hand, is rich in potash and so is best applied when the plants start to fruit. Towards the end of August, when the fruit is in its prime, Richard switches to a daily feed of liquid wood ash. This is very alkaline and will eventually turn the leaves yellow, but what a small price to pay for such magnificent fruit! To make it, he simply steeps some wood ash in a bucket of water for three weeks and gives it a daily stir. The liquid is then drained off and any sediment allowed to settle. The liquid concentrate is then bottled and used at a dilution rate of 1 in 50. The wood ash itself must not come from wood that has been painted or treated with preservative.

[Zenithtb]

@Potstubsdustbins

I. Must. Build. That!

[Alison]

Feeding every day is far too much of a task for me - what with work, I'm not even at home every day let alone able to get up to the lottie so it's not a route for me, however I can see that paying so much attention to the plants would mean that you would be keeping on top of them and able to give them what they need, when they need it. However for most people, they just don't have the time and I need my plants to be a bit more self sufficient. I've grown in pots, ring culture on grow bags and directly into the tunnel border and find that for me they do best in the large bank of soil which is the border, less likely to get blossom end rot as the soil is less likely to dry out and spending time preparing the soil before I plant out means that they have plenty of background food to go with if I'm a bit lax. In summary, it depend on the time you have and I was rather disappointed that Monty didn't do any ring culture or direct soil planting but I suppose he can't trial everything - was surprised that he advocated 3 per grow bag though, always thought that 2 was the maximum really.

[Mikey]

I haven't seen Monty's tomatoes show, but it sounds like hydroponics, plant in a small pot with holes that allow the roots to spread out between two layers of capillary matting, you add feed to the matting not the pot.

Its been around for a very long time, some believe the hanging gardens of babylon were the earliest know form of hydroponics. One of my neighbours offered me his hydroponics set, he used to demonstrate it back in the 60's.

[Paulieb]

Feeding every day is far too much of a task for me - what with work, I'm not even at home every day let alone able to get up to the lottie so it's not a route for me, however I can see that paying so much attention to the plants would mean that you would be keeping on top of them and able to give them what they need, when they need it. However for most people, they just don't have the time and I need my plants to be a bit more self sufficient. I've grown in pots, ring culture on grow bags and directly into the tunnel border and find that for me they do best in the large bank of soil which is the border, less likely to get blossom end rot as the soil is less likely to dry out and spending time preparing the soil before I plant out means that they have plenty of background food to go with if I'm a bit lax. In summary, it depend on the time you have and I was rather disappointed that Monty didn't do any ring culture or direct soil planting but I suppose he can't trial everything - was surprised that he advocated 3 per grow bag though, always thought that 2 was the maximum really.

Agreed. I don't have time to feed every day, and if you miss a day or 2 with that system then thats not going to be good for the tomatoes. This vegan gardener had a spotless allotment/plot so obviously had lots of time to make it work.

Last year I did some comparisons of growing tomatoes (which I probably should have shared on here). I compared:
-MFB's,
-one growbag,
-2 growbags (on top of each other with the middles cut out)
-2 plants
-3 plants
-using ring cultures in 1 bag or 2 bags.

I found the best way was to have 3 plants, in ring cultures, in one grow bag, and I don't think it really matters too much how big the bag is, 30lt/40lt/50lt. A close second was using Morrisons flower buckets.

They're easier to water quickly. Easier to feed (get food to the food roots), the extra depth must help. And 3 plants to a growbag is more economical.

So this year I've got 10 growbags, each with 3 ring culture pots in, growing toms and cucs.