[Dantheman]

Hi Guys,

Need some advice please, I will be potting on my tomatoes over the weekend they will be going into grow bags in my greenhouse, they will be on these.

http://www.alanwadkinstoolstore.co.uk/accessories-c3/garden-c114/watering-c68/2810-growbag-waterer-with-15-litre-resevoir-p22041?gclid=CMLTyMXk570CFWvjwgodbUQAdw#24205

I was wondering if they would benefit from being potted on into a bigger pot then put onto the grow bag (bottom cut off) or will they do just as well planted straight into the grow bag?

Thanks


title edit for search purposes

[Eightball]

Is your greenhouse heated? It's still a bit cold at night for tomatoes even in an unheated greenhouse imo.

[Totty]

Sorry, I think there must be something wrong with the link, as I'm sure that said 18+ quid! for an item that waters one grow bag. is that really something people consider buying?

With the grow bag that's more than 20 quid for three plants, mental.

Get some good sized pots, fill them with good compost, and forget grow bags. They dry out too quick, get too hot, and get full of ants. Can you think of anything else that grows well in just a few inches of soil? They are better when cut in half and stood up, so as to create two deep pots.

Totty

[JayG]

The idea seems OK, but the price doesn't (as Totty says that's a pretty hefty additional cost per growbag, and even though the main piece of the kit should last for years the wicks need replacing every year.)

It may be worthwhile for those who don't have friendly or competent friends, family or neighbours, or those who don't actually calculate the cost of growing their own (who might possibly think 'hmmmmm?'), or even those who don't believe that playing around with odd bits of tubing with holes in connected to their water butts is their idea of fun! 

[mumofstig]

I connected one of these kits to my water butt yesterday - it's working a treat 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hozelock-Water-Butt-Border-Watering-Kit-/251493423635?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a8e2d1a13

It has 12 drippers, so waters 12 tomatoes.


But to answer your question - yes, they would benefit from having the extra soil in the pot.

[Dantheman]

 

 HI Guys,

It might seem a lot to start with (I got them for £12 each) but the reason I have set it all up is because i'm a fisherman and work long days, I wanted to make it a lot easier for the wife to do all the watering.

mumofstig thanks i will use a pot.

Dan

[Dantheman]

some more 

[Dantheman]

I connected one of these kits to my water butt yesterday - it's working a treat 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hozelock-Water-Butt-Border-Watering-Kit-/251493423635?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a8e2d1a13

It has 12 drippers, so waters 12 tomatoes.


But to answer your question - yes, they would benefit from having the extra soil in the pot.

These look good for the polytunnel.

[sarajane]

I use growbags for tomatoes but actually tip the contents (mixed with very well rotted manure) into deep buckets.  This way there is more depth for the 'water' roots to grab more moisture.

Oh, and make sure you fleece your plants in the evening  -  just in case there is a frost

[3759allen]

if it were me i would i would use a 1.5l bottle, cut the base off and sink where the top used to be into the soil of the grow bag. admittedly not self watering but gives the water to where it needs it, just fill the bottle once a day.

i used this for my toms and cucs last year, admittedly these were planted straight into the ground but principles the same. and it's free.

i would say a bit too early to leave outside unheated all the time. mine are in pots and if forecast for less than 7 degrees i'll bring them inside over night. i almost got caught out a couple of weeks ago, but think i got away with it.

[Dantheman]

last year I struggle to keep the toms water.

[Totty]

Using grow bags?

Totty

[Headgardener22]

I connected one of these kits to my water butt yesterday - it's working a treat 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hozelock-Water-Butt-Border-Watering-Kit-/251493423635?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a8e2d1a13

It has 12 drippers, so waters 12 tomatoes.


But to answer your question - yes, they would benefit from having the extra soil in the pot.

These look good for the polytunnel.

I've used one of these in the polytunnel for a couple of years. The only disadvantage I've found is that about halfway through the year the drippers get bunged up and you need to clean them out. The most effective way I've found is to connect the pipe to the tap and drive water through whilst shaking the dripper.

[Dantheman]

they were in growbags jamie oliver ones. Headgardener22 think i might give it a go.