[cjskts]

I grew my tomatoes in grow bags last year. They tasted great, but i had big problems with the watering of them, i can't guarantee that i can get up there everyday and they dried out very easily.

I was looking at pots to grow in. I have found buckets in Asda the cheapest idea. They are 3gallon sized. Are these big enough?

[pigeonpie]

Should be plenty big enough if you consider how big a grow bag is and therefore how much compost ot holds.  The only thing I would say though is don't forget to feed them plenty throughout the growing season.  Tomatoes are hungry plants and will soon use up all the goodness in the compost.

[solway cropper]

More than big enough. I grow toms in all sorts of containers including flower buckets which are a lot less than 3 gallons.

[cjskts]

i have loads of those flower buckets too (the ones from Morrisons), but someone told me they were too small.

[pigeonpie]

Still bigger than a grow bag though!

If you're worried about them drying out during the day it might be worth thinking about putting a mulch on the top of the pots to help keep the moisture in (although I would only do this when the plants are well grown to make sure that they don't rot off).

[cjskts]

Thank you

I have bought some water spikes to attach a 2l bottle to, so i will point these towards the bottom of the pots for the water roots. Then plan to feed the feeding roots with the Tomorite.

I love this forum! lol

[pigeonpie]

Sounds like a plan.  You could also look up making some comfrey water (if you search it on this forum I'm sure it was discussed recently) to help as a feed as well (it's cheaper than bought stuff and natural!)

Yeah, this forum really is great.  I've learnt so much.

[cjskts]

I made some with horse manure last year and then forgot about it!!! Looked yesterday and was shocked that it didnt stink. Not sure about using it though, the Hessian sack had rotted! lol

[hightide]

The hydroponics guys don't grow in soil.

I was looking at some of their methods and thinking about how to modify their technique. It would certainly answer the watering frequency problem as the water is always there. :blink:

I saw some really cheap basins in Lidl and thought if I filled that with water, gravel or clay pellets then stuck a large flower pot on top with the tomato in it, the tomato roots would soon find the water reservoir, which would not dry out so quick and it would be easy to add feed when needed.    

When do they open?

[cjskts]

Hydroponics? Not heard of that.

I was going to do it the water reservoir way and use cat litter trays (can get them cheap enough) but i have heard off here and on our site, that it can make the tomatoes watery in taste. The feed needs to go in the top of the pot too. The feeding roots are just below the surface near the stem and the water roots go really deep.

[Paul Plots]

If the pots you are planning to use are black you may find wrapping them in white plastic helps reduce moisture loss as black heats up very quickly in the sun.

Just a thought. 

[cjskts]

ooohh. I wonder if i can put the pots in white bin bags and put water in the bags for any roots to come out of the bottom.

Or paint then white. Got lots of gloss, that should stick to plastic.

[Kristen]

I saw some really cheap basins in Lidl and thought if I filled that with water, gravel or clay pellets then stuck a large flower pot on top with the tomato in it, the tomato roots would soon find the water reservoir, which would not dry out so quick and it would be easy to add feed when needed.    

You are re-inventing Ring Culture

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=437