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Wv

Since i plan to move in june im planting a few in 10gal. tubs, holes drilled in the bottom, a few rocks in he bottom, half fill very old horse manure, plant soil that holds water a pvc pipe feeder then the old horse manure, stake bolted to the side, tomato feed spikes joes i think. Now i know i will have to watch and keep watered, what should i fert. with,im guessing im going to have to feed much more than normal, anyone tried it, GOD BLESS, treetop

1/10/2010 4:30:50 PM

Baltimore

you need bigger pots 22 inches min

1/10/2010 5:35:08 PM

Wv

i dont think they would be 22in wide but prob.close,they are 21 deep, i cant go bigger ill never get them moved.treetop

1/10/2010 7:06:47 PM

Bethlehem CT

Spudley from Alaska grew a watermelon that was over 100 pounds (I forget what it weighed exactly) in a pot. I would think if that can be done a tomato should be quite a bit easier. He might be able to help you quite a bit.
A few ideas;
I would consider skiping the rocks at the bottom of the pot. They are going to need every bit of soil you can give them. (I never quite saw as how that made a difference, If you are going to have problems with waterlogging it wil happen regardless of what is on the bottom.l
I grew a tomato in a five gallon sheetrock bucket years ago, by the end of the summer the soil would dry out so fast, I had a hard time keeping it moist enough. Some sort of slow release drip waterer might be of help. A foliar calcium spray would probably help alot too. I noticed in a pot calcium seems to be in short supply. I had a problem with blossom end rot.
The soil in a pot is much less stable than in a field situation so it can be hard to manage things like pH. Also it is much easier to overdo it with the fertilizer and see problem with high salts. Use small amounts often.
Also based on what I have seen if you move in June that should leave plenty of time to plant some giant tomatoes in your new garden. Just in time for some fall weighoffs too.

1/10/2010 8:59:21 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

There is a guy who lives in Bufallo who grows only in containers. He name is Korney. I have tried to locate him recently but have been unsuccesful. He knows a lot about growing in containers including what to put in the container, how to fertilize and how to water. He uses some sort of a drip watering system. He is good. Try to locate him. You will be glad you did.
Marv

1/10/2010 9:16:14 PM

Wv

Thanks guys, treetop

1/10/2010 10:08:46 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

Very good advice Big Moon.

Treetop.
You other options could be to grow only a few large plants and then take cuttings in mid-may for later June transplant ino you new garden. I used to conform to the idea that you should start plants early and transplant Big plants into the garden in early spring. All of my tomatoes this past season could have made some of the early tomato weigh-offs, but too early for the GPC October weigh-offs.
From what I have discussed with Christy and maybe she could chime in here and correct me if I am wrong, is that Nick was experiencing the same problems, so this past season he started his seeds in Early June for a late June, Early July transplant.

It would be much easier if you were to start your seeds sometime in May with the expectation of having them transplanted up to say, two or three gallon pots and two to three feet tall when you expect to transplant them into the new garden.

1/11/2010 8:58:46 AM

Hamilton Nj

glenn did u think of trying the tubs they sell at walmart there plastic and around 15-20 gallon with handles ,two people can pick them up thats what im trying there 3-4 bucks a piece pizza

1/11/2010 10:47:04 AM

Wv

im thinking on trying duanes idea, the larger tubs are just to big,my move is about a two day drive,and i think my wife will want to take some things LOL GOD BLESS, TREETOP

1/11/2010 11:09:17 AM

Wv

Besides putting the cuttings in water is there any tricks to it, and is the suckers the best to start? GOD BLESS,treetop

1/11/2010 5:43:22 PM

Hamilton Nj

glenn i think u half to put the clipping in some roottone to help it root ???? pizza

1/11/2010 6:15:40 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

There is an invention called a dolly, makes moving easy.

I have seen some nice tomatoes from 20 inch pots increases growing area lol.

1/11/2010 8:17:26 PM

Wv

Captain old weather, your great thanks for the help, NICE. treetop

1/11/2010 8:35:18 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I think suckers are rooting powder/potmix propagation, not water rooting. I'm going to find out this spring....

Good luck with that move.

1/12/2010 9:43:37 AM

Bethlehem CT

A few hints for good rooting
-I have had good results with pro-mix bx for rooting.
-And a rooting hormone meant for softwood cuttings. Tomatoes would probably root fine with out any hormone too. But it couldn't hurt.
-I have had better luck if you let the suckers get nice and big before sticking in the pro-mix. Maybe 6-12", you want them to have a stem that has hardened and several sets of leaves. The younger more succulent ones are a little harder to root.
-warm soil is good for rooting. "An old propagators saying is warm roots and cool tops are good for rooting"
-keep the young cutting from wilting, high humidity is good. In a real propagation house, misters would go off on a routine basis to wet the foliage. Some people have made clear plastic tubs into nice rooting chambers. (Kind of like a terrarium's environment would be like.)
-Moist but not wet soil. (one half peat one half perlite is good for a homemade rooting mix if you want to make your own.)
-I am sure if you google rooting herbaceous plants you will get plenty of more good info.

Tomato cuttings may root in water it might not hurt to try it. (I have never tried it)

1/12/2010 11:29:11 AM

Wv

thanks alot big moon, GOD BLESS, treetop

1/12/2010 2:38:00 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

So I am Captain Old weather now eh son.

1/12/2010 8:36:47 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Yes, thanks a LOT !!!!! big moon. This is new terrain for this old gardener.... any good advice is greatly appreciated!

1/13/2010 2:25:40 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

You'll find that tomatoes are one of the easiest plants to root from cuttings. Personally I'd advise against taking larger cuttings. I think you would have a hard time rooting a 12inch tomato cutting unless it already had roots showing on the stem. Larger cuttings can transpire faster than you can keep them hydrated. I've had my best luck taking cuttings from new suckers which are between 4 and 6 inches. I would normally use a 1203 flat which has 36 cells and holds enough medium to retain water well. Flats are filled with plain Pro-Mix and soaked. Cuttings are stuck, a humidity dome is placed over them, then it's off to the flourescent lights which are on normally 16 hours per day. Plants are misted if necessary. You should have roots in 3 to 7 days.
My favorite rooting hormone is Clonex, I swear you could root a Que stick with that stuff. A Very effective rooting hormone can be made from growing tips of the Willow tree.
Tomato cuttings will root in water but you will have better results using the method described above.

1/13/2010 3:54:57 PM