pots for tomatos

[alan4heidi]

can anyone please tell me what size plastic pots do I need to buy for my tomato plants in my new greenhouse, either in litres or inches , both preferred. I made a raised 10 feet by 2 feet by 6" planked oblong and filled it with soil, but there were many wireworms in it ,so took out the soil and lined the oblong with water proof plastic and put 2" pea gravel on top , which I will stand the tomato plants on. does this sound feasible. thank you heidi

[Baldy]

Sorry - I don't really do measurements - someone who does will be along shortly - having said that I've found builders buckets to be great and grow also toms in MFB's every year pretty well.
MFB = Morrison's Flower Bucket

Some would possibly say that MFB's could be on the small side but I've found them ok

[Thelma Sanders]

I like to use builders buckets like these - 14Lt/330mm

Builders Bucket Black 3 Gallon (14Ltr) | Buckets | Screwfix.com

[Nannysally99]

I use builders buckets too from B&Q

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have use MFBs for years with good success. Last year they were £0-99p for eight, bob a few holes in for drainage and you have the cheapest 10/12ltr flower pot going.

[Bigmallly]

Bottomless MFB's. Plant the Toms in the bed, cover with a bottomless bucket & fill the bucket up as the plant grows, this will encourage extra roots up the stem making for a stronger plant.

[jonny the plant pot]

Mfb for me too

[veggiechicken]

Bottomless flower buckets for me - known as Ring culture.

My GH's have solid floors and I've made a raised bed around the sides. At first the beds were filled with shingle with the bottomless pots on top. The roots go down into the shingle for water and the fertiliser into the pots. It worked well for years but each year more compost would fall out of the pots and into the shingle. I still grow toms this way but the beds are filled with old compost from the tomato pots.
I grow salad leaves in the spaces around the pots.

Like this:-

[BUFFS]

I use buckets as they are just the right size for me, and having a handle makes them easier to move around, make sure when you drill holes in the bottom for drainage that you pour some boiling water over the upturned base to prevent any splitting..

[Penellype]

I use 3 litre pots for my windowsill tomatoes (stopped at 2-3 trusses) and at least 10 litre pots for outdoor/greenhouse ones. I find if you are trying to grow really big plants you need something more like 18-20 litres.

[Muddy_Boots]

I don't is MFB's as they are too expensive, being a skinflint I use CFB's (Co-op Flower Buckets) which are zero pence to get and come in two sizes with holes melted into the bottoms for drainage and done that way to stop splitting as well. Most Co-ops throw their flower buckets away instead of re-using them, my local one leaves them outside to warehouse shutter and I just help myself after I've shopped there, have over 100 of them so far.

[WalterWhite]

20 litre square/round pots are fairly cheap from local hydroponic retailers. Approx £1.60 per pot.

[KevinM67]

Can I hijack this thread to ask a question ?
I'm growing Tumbling Toms this year for the first time, in hanging baskets.

How many plants would you put in a standard 14 inch basket ?

Thanks

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow Tumbler, similar to Tumbling Tom at I per basket, they are quite big plants and can dry the compost out very quickly.

[KevinM67]

Cheers Pots.