[Snap Dragon]

Do you put your toms straight into a grow bag or do you cut the bottom off a plastic pot and put that in the grow bag and then plant the tom into that?

Does it make a lot of difference to the plant and if so what size pot do you use. (I have seen the ready made tom ring things but I'm too stingy to buy them )

[Yorkie]

If I recall correctly from other posts, it is by far preferable to plant your tomatoes into bottomless pots which have been inserted into a grow bag - i.e. your second option.

This gives added depth for roots to grow, increased ability to water, and (I guess) slightly more nutrients - though you will still have to feed once the first truss is set.

[Aidy]

If you have a morrisons near by they often sell their flower pots 5 for a quid, this are ideal. You will see a massive difference if you use, most of the above is correct, problem nowadays is growbags have shrunk so adding your pot on top will give the roots plenty to go at.

[Snap Dragon]

Thanks for the replies.... I though it would be beneficial but didn't know if anyone bothered doing it.

As soon as the greenhouse is up I'll get the growbags sorted..... I feel a trip to Morrisons coming on!  

[jennyb]

i was planning on doing it so that i didn't have to spend a fortune on the bigger growbags.  the bigger ones are about a fiver each and with all my tomato plants i think i need about 5 - i don't really have £25 to spare like that.

so my plan is to get some from wilcos for about £1.20 each and use the bottomless pot idea.

[hickorychickory]

I planted my toms with the pots in the growbags and they are doing really well.  Have loads of flowers on them.     First year planting them this way, so far pleased with the outcome.

Ally

[cooperman]

I bought the new Levingtons "jumbo" growbags, same length as normal but three times the thickness, will still use the ring culture method and plant the toms very deep as this will encourage extra roots to grow from the buried part of the stem, these are the "feeder" roots and helps to take up more nutrients...