[garddwr]

I've seen a neighbour's tomatoes and they are 10 times better than mine.Lush green foliage,loads of trusess of fruit,reached the roof of the greenhouse.And mine are leggy little grey things that haven't even reached the top of the cane !!

I asked for tips and they water them from below from a large tray which is always full of water and when they feed the plant can use it when it wants and this is the only thing I can think of I was doing wrong, and when I thought about it it does make sense- in mine the water just runs through the pot and runs through the greenhouse (the floor is on a slight slope)

So it dosen't get much water or feed.

Do you think that its something to do with this ? Do you water from underneath the plants ?

I'm considering trying this for next year.

Have you seen any large trays anywhere as theirs are very old and they don't know where they got them from and I've never seen any ?

Thanks

Garddwr

[savbo]

I used to use growbag trays from homebase, can get 3 large pots in each. Think B&Q do the same kind of thing. (my toms are in the border now, growing like the clappers, but will have to change the soil somethimes I guess)

M

[chris.selvey]

Good idea to place them in trays, but must be careful that the water doesn't go stagnant though.

[garddwr]

I used to use growbag trays from homebase, can get 3 large pots in each. Think B&Q do the same kind of thing. (my toms are in the border now, growing like the clappers, but will have to change the soil somethimes I guess)

M

Thanks for your reply.

How did they do in the trays ?

[DD.]

In one greenhouse they're in the border soil, but in the other they stand in washing up bowls.

They're either throw outs or from the pound shop.

I refuse to do the old joke.

[Ice]

Mine are in trays this year.  Water from the bottom, food from the top and they are the best ever.

[savbo]

Mine did well in the trays, especially when I set up a drip water system so they never dried out.  Ice is right about feeding from above cos if you put feed water in the trays you won't believe the speed the algae grows...

M

[Ice]

Yes, algae absolutely love it.  Also, tomatoes have two types of roots.  At the bottom are the water ones and at the top are the feeding ones, so it makes sense to do them differently.

[AnnieB]

Did you see the bit on TV about those LARGE glass houses in Kent that grow tomatoes and peppers. They do not use soil it is all hydroponics. Agreed the water and nutrients are pumped round all the plants so algea will not develop but no soil all water based growing.

[mumofstig]

So that's why they taste of nothing, cos they 're growing in nothing

[savbo]

welll well well Ice, never knew that... makes sense now!

M

[Ice]

So that's why they taste of nothing, cos they 're growing in nothing

Yup.  Tasteless, uniform, grown for profit Euroveg.

[garddwr]

In one greenhouse they're in the border soil, but in the other they stand in washing up bowls.

They're either throw outs or from the pound shop.

I refuse to do the old joke.

Of course, washing up bowls. How did I not think of those !

Thanks DD.

[DD.]

"Simples"

[SalJ1980]

"Simples"