TomatoGirl wrote:
I grow my tomatoes in containers every year for the past 3 years. Never used anything over 8 gallons. While I am sure you . would get bigger plants and more tomatoes in bigger containers, I have had great success in 5 gallon buckets. These are the things you have to remember.
Regularly feed with a balanced fertiliser
Make sure they are getting enough water
Don't let them sprawl all over the place, get some good stakes and tie them to it for support
Do give them organic matter such as compost tea and fish agra/emulsion
I always plant more plants than I think I will need because of the lower production of tomatoes, but I find if it is done properly you will get a great crop. I had a ton of seedling this year so I gave some away. Most people planted in the ground. I have way more flowers and baby tomatoes than anyone else.
So when someone tells you, you can't grow in 5 gallon pots that's a load of rubbish. I do it every year very successfully. You just have to do it right.
How about you repot your tomatoes in 5-10 gallon pots, all except 2 which you keep in the bags. See how they do in comparison. They may do as well or not, but at least you will know. You just have to find what works for you.
I posted the fertiliser I use already in this thread. Its water soluble and my tomatoes are loving it.
Good luck!!
I didn't respond to this, but I do think I'll keep 2 or 3 in the bags to see just how they do. They do look better each day so I'm happy to see that!
imafan26 wrote:I usually use 18 gallon muck buckets and put holes in them. They are easier to find than pots that size. They will last a couple of years. In the larger containers I have fewer issues with water stress. I also grow very big plants and 5 gallon buckets are more suitable for the determinates that don't get very big. I use MG potting soil, but I use synthetic fertilizer.
If you put them in the ground they should be better, but the ground also needs to be prepared with compost and fertizer. Organic fertilizers takes weeks to deliver and the plants need nutrition now. So you still have to give them a fast release fertilizer. The synthetics will be available to the plants immediately, but if you want to be organic you need to be using the blood meal, and fish emulsion. You can also use compost or manure tea. You should probably give them fish emulsion weekly.
Can I use the soil I have in the bags when I replant them? Would that help them with their nutrition since it already has been fertilized?