[chrissie B]

having problems growing tomatoes because of lumpy roots would this work for me out in the open ,(no green house ) and in large pots oh say it will and end my tomatoe misery .
chrissie b

[deka296]

Hi all.
regarding "Ring culture" growing:- This year I am going to try my tomatoes in ring culture pots on pea shingle, and use grow pots (to fit) on top of the ring culture pots. Pea shingle to water and grow pot tops for feed.
Is this a feasible option or am I deluding myself?

Advice welcomed

Thanks deka296

[ranat22]

i read earlier that you water the gravel,but feed through the pot,surley you would have to still water the pot till the tomatoes are established enough to have rooted into the compost and the gravel..or am i missing something.....i will try this ring culture,i had a lot of black spot when growing in pots,so i grew them in a bed inside the greenhouse..the results were a lot better,and i used less water..........what amount of water and how often are the people who already using the ring culture method using(when plant is well established).....cheers

[gremlin]

I use about 3" of sharp sand on thick unpunctured polythene which stays there for about 5 years until it goes a bit green. It's easier to replace the sand than sterilize.  (the old sand goes up to the lotty)  This acts as the water reservoir, which I try to keep surface damp but not waterlogged, although if I am going away for a few days I do flood it to become a swamp. (not ideal,  but all I can do)

About 10 bags sharp sand at £1.20 each is enough to fill my 8 x 2 foot border

Got fed up of buying ring culture pots, so I have a stock of six 10" flower pots with the bottoms cut off which have lasted for years. These are sterilized every year in Miltons.

Pots are filled with new JI No3.   Seedlings deep planted up to seed leaves, or even to  first true leaves    A single stem is wound up nylon string to avoid all that tying to canes.  I tap the strings when the flowers are open to knock the pollen down.

I water the pots only for the first few weeks with water, then start supplemental feeding with B&Q own brand powder fertilizer which is exactly the same mix as the old phostrogen tomato fertilizer, but without the calcium. (As I am on a very hard water area lack of calcium isnt a problem)

All works fine (except for my missing out on the first truss, as posted elsewhere on this forum), but third, fourth, fifth and sixth trusses are usually amazing.

Still learning though after 15 years practice !