watering/feeding tom`s

[KMARKSnr]

Hi all,
We are presently growing tomatoes in a greenhouse,in plastic buckets from ASDA,with the bottoms completely cut out,and standing in grow bags 3/4 filled with good quality compost.
We do this to ensure the plants get a "really good watering",and that any water,or feed,passes directly into the grow bag if the plant does not take it.
The root system follows into the bag,and finds it hard to become thirsty,or underfed.
We always get "superb crops" whichever variety we grow with this method.
Any advice to this is most welcome.

Regards,
Mark.

[Colin_M]

I agree. Though I don't follow this method exactly, I use a similar one, using Grow Pots:
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=615

This has a similar effect as your buckets (probably not as deep). The advantage of using this approach is that you can choose where to water/feed - important as tomatoes have two types of roots.

i) Plain water is directed into the outer ring, which lets the water seep slowly into the growbag, also directing it towards the lower roots that the plant uses to take up water. In the early stages of growth, this helps encourage quicker root growth than might be achived by watering at the surface.

ii) By contrast, I think liquid feed is best applied to the higher roots (ie. the inner ring), where the stem meets the surface of the soil.


Colin

ps - I'm sure other places sell these. This site says £14.75 for 3 - I've used mine each year for around 6 or 7 years, so they seem a useful investment)

[toffeeman]

I am trying the pot with bottom cut out method like Mark for the first time this year and I must say so far so good. Plants look very healthy and don't dry out quickly. I think the grow rings look great but £14 for 3 seems a bit of a rip off to me.

[David]

I use collapsible plastic crates (£6 for 5 at Argos) lined with carboard and filled with growbag compost. I think it gives a deeper fill.

I put two plants in each and water them with a measured litre every day at about the same time. I add feed once a week.

Lat year I couldnt move in the greenhouse for 7ft high plants loaded with trusses carrying @ 20 fruits each on Gardeners delight, less on the beefsteak, Legend and its french lookalike Marmande. Alltogether a success.

Hope this helps

David

[Vegman]

With the introduction of grow bags, the traditional 'Ring Culture' method has been modified, but for me the old method is still the best.
ie using bottomless buckets sat on a washing up bowl filled to the top with gravel.
liquid feed into the pot where the feeding roots are and water only into the bowls.
No risk of any soil becoming waterlogged and intervals between watering can be extended.