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Western Massachusetts

Hey guys just trying to figure out soil moisture in the buckets. Since I've been watering from the bottom, the good majority of the soil in the top half of the bucket is actually bone dry. I actually feel I can water even less than I have been, but won't the roots at the top of the bucket dry up? Hard to know if I'm doing the right thing watering from the base

6/24/2020 10:22:33 PM

Coventry Rhode Island USA

I’d water less at the bottom and more at the top ! Meaning not all at the bottom , but more at the top ! Split the difference ,You want to keep from top to bottom consistently moist ! But not too wet ! Important when it comes to calcium uptake !

6/25/2020 12:39:18 AM

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Here’s what I’m going to do again , drill a half inch hole in the side of my containers about 4 or five inches in . Upper middle and lower levels ! Wrap up some paper towel real tight , half inch wide and 4 or 5 inches long . Gently twist it all the way in , leaving 2 or three inches hanging out , so a total of 6 to 8 inches altogether , give it a hour or so and u can feel them if there wet or not ? It gives me some idea of what’s going on in there ! And hey who knows they probably wick out the extra water ! Just a idea

6/25/2020 1:06:45 AM

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Don’t know how big your containers are ? But of course be careful not to drill into the plant or big mass of roots ! It works for me and if it’s a little moist in there you can feel it !which would mean no water needed . Also they don’t have to go in so deep ! I’m done I must be venting or something lol .

6/25/2020 1:27:32 AM

Lakewood, WA

Have a nice evening, Greenbud!

6/25/2020 1:33:09 AM

Western Massachusetts

I like the idea of splitting up watering from the top and bottom, my only issue being gravity always making the bottom more moist than the top of the bucket. They are 20 gal

6/25/2020 8:21:29 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I agree about watering from the top part. The soil in the pot should be very porous and you actually water from the top and check to make certain the bottom is moist. Excess water, if your mix is porous enough, will come out the bottom when you water, depending on how deep your pot is. If you look in the rewrite of my original book, there is a chapter on growing in containers. How you water has a lot to do with what your pot soil is like. Also at Tomatoville.com there is an entire forum on growing tomatoes in containers. Lots of really great information there. I saw some pictures of your tomatoes and, whatever you are doing, they look great to me.

6/25/2020 9:32:47 AM

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Maybe you should water more at the top and let gravity do it’s thing ? When you water from the bottom can the water also drain back out of the bottom ? You really don’t want it too wet at the bottom. { root rot } I grew in 20 gallons last year , went well . How much water do you give them ? What type of soil ?

6/25/2020 10:52:01 AM

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Yea true nice plants ! Just seen your diary , should have no problems with drainage !

6/25/2020 11:05:03 AM

Western Massachusetts

Thanks Marv and Greenbud, and yeah the bottom does allow drainage they are growing in promix and foxfarms and I give them a half gal with every water (every 3 days)

6/25/2020 11:16:43 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

When it gets hotter you may have to water them daily.

6/25/2020 11:55:23 AM

Coventry Rhode Island USA

I like your covers keeps the leaves out of the dirt ! Maybe u could shade those containers , being brown or black they must get hot !

6/25/2020 12:59:23 PM

Western Massachusetts

The covers also keep rain out, but yes they do get toasty.

6/25/2020 1:08:26 PM

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Oh rain , what’s that ? Only got one inch here in Ri in last five weeks. Going to do a rain dance . Anyway good luck .

6/25/2020 2:49:35 PM

Western Massachusetts

Thank you and same to you, your plants look spectacular

6/25/2020 5:28:43 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Hayden that blossom on the 9.65 looks awesome !
I grew in 20 gallon pots last year for the hell of it.
I watered from the top.
Marv is correct.
When it gets hot you’ll probably have to water daily.
You seem to be doing just fine !
Good luck !

6/25/2020 8:41:54 PM

Western Massachusetts

Thanks man! Good luck to you too

6/26/2020 4:12:41 PM

Wixom MI.

Awesome looking megablooms Hayden this time keep the chickens away !!!:-)

6/26/2020 8:54:21 PM

Western Massachusetts

No chickens in sight at my new place!!! Thanks chris, your whole garden looks amazing

6/26/2020 9:10:12 PM

Central NY

Oooooo....bigBIG

6/26/2020 10:32:13 PM

Western Massachusetts

Hope she takes!!

6/27/2020 11:10:37 AM