Air-pots

[rary]

Has anyone used air-pots, I have set up three with peppers and,two with tomatoes, I have them sitting on capillary matting but as the actual base of the pot is about half an inch, above the outer rim and not in contact with the mat, will I have to water from the top

[Small pumpkin]

I used one for the first time last year. I'm NOT using it this year!!! Keeping them watered is a nightmare.
You will definitely need to water from the top as well as the capillary matting. Like you say the base of the pot isn't in contact with the matting.

Good luck

[rary]

Thanks SP I will try a bit of capillary matting in through the base to see how that works, as I always try to avoid watering from the top

[Aberdeenplotter]

Airpots are designed to be watered from the top. The top couple of inches have no holes and provided the compost level is above the level of the topmost row of holes this provides a reservoir. I bought and used some 1 ltr airpots last year with my big onions but won't use them again. These small ones really are difficult to keep watered. Having said that, my better half grows her tomatoes in air pots. I think her's are 18ltr (but maybe 20 ltr) and these developed tremendous root systems in her toms and a good crop of decent sized toms.

[rary]

Thanks AP I have a couple that size and had been considering cutting them down but I will try growing my tomatoes in them

[chris_m]

I saw them in my "local" GC when I was browsing last week - then I saw the price, decided they were extravagantly expensive, and put them back on the shelf.

Are they really worth the price?

[rary]

I saw them in my "local" GC when I was browsing last week - then I saw the price, decided they were extravagantly expensive, Are they really worth the price?

They are made out of recycled plastic and as far as I know are used mostly for growing trees as they are very robust, and have a long usage life, I have set one up for tomatoes and on what AP has said I have put some capillary matting through the base and set it up similarly to setting up a grow bag, so will see how it goes

[chris_m]

They are made out of recycled plastic and as far as I know are used mostly for growing trees as they are very robust, and have a long usage life, I have set one up for tomatoes and on what AP has said I have put some capillary matting through the base and set it up similarly to setting up a grow bag, so will see how it goes

Yes, the GCs been stocking trees in them for some time but the other day was the first time I've seen them selling packs of the pots.

[Small pumpkin]

They seem to be popular with giant veg growers as well.

Maybe the bigger pots do work well. But I really didn't like the 3lt pot I tried last year.