[Barry C]

Morning all, just an update re my airpot and watering experiment.

Well it has proved a great success, the best crop of tomatoes I've ever had, both types and all varieties have done incredibly well. The tumblers on the bench are larger sized fruits than usual and have started to ripen this last couple of weeks or so.
The plants grown in the larger pots are right up into the roof and have had the growing tips removed, the fruit is again larger and in greater numbers.

The irrigation system is brilliant, I had tried an 'in line' cheapy system but it wasn't very good, so went for the one in the link below, the manifold system makes all the difference. Certainly worth the few pounds and very efficient.

https://www.watermateirrigation.co.uk/Greenhouse-Watering/Water-Butt-Drip-System-for-10-Plants-p182.html

[Aidy]

Great news Barry.
Mine worked well last year, at the end of the season the roots was defo better in that more of the important fine root system was developed.

[Barry C]

Must admit I'm pleasantly surprised. Not just the tomato plants, the chillies are superb as well 

[Aidy]

Must admit I'm pleasantly surprised. Not just the tomato plants, the chillies are superb as well 

To be honest I found that too, I put a Chocolate Trinidad Scorpion in the spare Airpot, it was bigger and more productive by at least 50% than the others, same greenhouse, same feed same everything but the pot, again the root system was far better.

[Barry C]

Actually going to plan differently for next year due to size of both plants and crop   

[I Love Spuds]

Good stuff Barry, I was wondering how they were doing? Guess what I'll be trying next year  Thanks for the up date.

PS - Pics would be a bonus 

[victoria park]

Interesting concept but I've just seen the price of an air pot.   
All a bit too gadgety for me I think, but good to see it produces results. Will certainly suit some people.

[Aidy]

Interesting concept but I've just seen the price of an air pot.   
All a bit too gadgety for me I think, but good to see it produces results. Will certainly suit some people.

You can get cheaper options... http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=123302.msg1451383#msg1451383 scroll down to my post

[Barry C]

Eventually got there .... photos !

Chillies in 6ltr pots
Toms in 10 ltr pots with manifold for drip feed system, makes all the difference than just straight in line drip feed.
Last Toms in pots on bench.

[Mr Dog]

Interesting concept but I've just seen the price of an air pot.   
All a bit too gadgety for me I think, but good to see it produces results. Will certainly suit some people.

You can get cheaper options... http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=123302.msg1451383#msg1451383 scroll down to my post

There are also fabric pots that do the same thing (available from 3.8 - 76L size). Doubt they'll last as long as the plastic air pots, but I've got several that are into their 3rd year now, and apart from some water staining they're still as robust as when I bought them. Will try to get a few pictures of some of my chilli plants growing in them.

[Mr Dog]

A few pics: 2nd year Prairie Fire (8L), a couple of Bulgarian Carrots (3.8L) and for comparison a Bulgarian Carrot in a standard plastic pot (just starting to flower, whilst the fabric potted plants have got full sized fruit on them. Sown at the same time and on the 'sunnier' side of the greenhouse).