Hello everyone! I’ve been lurking on this forum for a few days and subscribed yesterday because of all of the support and just plain friendliness I’ve seen here. Dave’s Garden definitely stands out from other sites like this because of the members! I do have some questions, and they are newbie questions.
Some background info (feel free to skip ahead!!) on my tomato experience (or lack thereof!): My husband and I have tried twice in the past to grow tomatoes in an Earth Box (very generously given to me by my mom, a lifelong gardener) with mixed success. The first time (about 8 years ago— wow, time flies!) we were living in an apartment so the box was on our balcony. I honestly can’t remember where we got the plants (two of them) or what kind they were, but we got enough tomatoes for us although it definitely was not a great yield. I think it’s because we didn’t really know what we were doing.
Our next attempt was in 2007, and THAT was a disaster. My husband did pretty much all of the plant care that year, and he does not come from the same gardening background I do—when I was growing up my parents always had a large vegetable garden. I never particularly enjoyed working in the garden, but I at least had some experience with it. Hubby grew up in the city in Belgium and his family just isn’t into gardening at all. He was a trooper, though, and really tried in 2007. Unfortunately, that was the heatwave/drought summer here in NC—we got a grand total of two tomatoes from our plants (purchased at K-mart, again no idea what kind) before the hornworms invaded. I never knew how squeamish my husband could be until he saw his first hornworm! :) He gave up on the plants at that point, and given the bad shape they were in I didn’t think I could “rescue” them with my limited knowledge.
Hubby was so put-out by the 2007 debacle that I didn’t even mention tomatoes last summer. This year, though, I told him that I really really miss REAL tomatoes so I wanted to try growing them again AND that I would be doing the work this time around. He is very skeptical, but I don’t think he realizes just how much I want to taste a real tomato again! At any rate, because he IS so skeptical I feel like I’ve got something to prove here! Unfortunately, I remember very little of what I learned about tomatoes growing up. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the internet to get up-to-speed and I *think* I know what I want to do, but I’m seeking input from y’all.
I really want to grow heirlooms—my mom grew German Johnsons a couple of years ago and even though they were “high-maintenance” in her opinion, the flavor of those tomatoes was unbelievable. I’ve ordered four heirloom tomato plants from Laurel Garza (super friendly, and answered the phone herself!)—Carmello, Goose Creek, Marianna’s Peace, and Paul Robeson. It looks like these are fairly heat-tolerant and should do okay in containers. I could use the Earthbox again for two of the plants (or even just one) but I’m thinking about skipping the EB altogether and buying growbags or SmartPots—I’ll have to get at least two or three new containers, even if I do decide to use the EB this year. I know that a five gallon container should be big enough to grow one plant, but I want these to do well so I’m thinking I need to go bigger for the container. How have y’all done growing heirlooms in 5 gallon containers? Frankly, the smaller containers would be less expensive (and that would make hubby happy) but I also think it may be worth it to spend a little more now and get the bigger containers to ensure a good outcome, this year AND in the future. Any opinion/thoughts/info would be appreciated!
I also would like to use coir as a growing medium and not use any other soil/mix. I know that I will have to make sure that I keep the coir well-fertilized, and that’s where I also need some input. I’ve seen info here and there throughout the forum about this, but nothing really definitive. Maybe I haven’t looked hard enough, and there probably really isn’t one “right” way to do it, but I’d like to know what has worked for others—if you’ve used just the coir to grow tomatoes, how did you initially fertilize it, and how did you “maintain” it?
Wow—that’s a long post for just two questions! Sorry about that, but I felt like it would help y’all to know this information. Please, please feel free to share any thoughts you may have about this adventure on which I’m about to embark. Remember, too, that I’m a newbie here—please be gentle! :)
Newbie here; looong post with a couple of questions!
This looks like it was just made for you.
http://shop.instagarden.com/product.sc?categoryId=9&productId=5
This is a great starting out kit for a beginning gardener. Lots of forum members use the instagarden products and can be of help. Ask away if you have more questions.
liannenc There is a tomato forum..With loads of information on how to..
You'll love the coco coir..Caution it might make you a little nutty..LOL
Click on Communities, on your home page, Then forums look for tomato in center column
".Tomatoes: Tomato resource links"
Enjoy them home grown tomatoes
Tubby
Hi Lianne, and welcome to DG!!!!!
You should definately try out the 5 gallon grow bags and coconut coir from BocaBob at Instagarden. The bags are a very cheap and very good way to grow indeterminates. You will love that Paul Robeson too!
Hi Lianne: The 5 gallon grow bags with coconut coir are fabulous they are small enough to move whereever you want them. You might also want to buy some of the fertilizer to go with them, you can mix the fertilizer in a watering can with epsom salt and the tomatoes will have everything they need to thrive. To ward off tomato horned worms you might try dusting the leaves with Dipel dust or perhaps using fertilome action plus. Be sure to get the underside of the leaves and maybe hand your husband some surgical gloves, I have a whole box of the disposable kind that I use, makes one less sqeamish about those ugly things. LOL
joy
Thank all of you so much... I *knew* that y'all would point me in the right direction! If anyone else has any ideas or thoughts to add, please do... I need all the help I can get! :)
liannenc
I've gardened most all my life using the row and furrow (raised bed without containment) method. I will continue to garden in this manor, but this year I decided to try straw bale gardening and container gardening.
I am using the 5 gal grow bags and straight coir. The results so far are promising, but are still out. I am keeping an open mind about the 5 gal size being an adequate size for my growing style. If need be I will move up to a 7 or 10 gal size this fall as I have just purchased ten 10 gal and five 7 gal bags to have in reserve.
The coir drains fast while at the same time retains a goodly amount of moisture. My idea is to keep the coir moist and on a daily basis feed the plants a highly diluted mix of fertilizer by drench and foliar spray.
The question in my mind with this idea is will the plants become root bound over the coming 90-100 days? That will put us mid July and at the end of my Spring growing season.
If at the end of this first go round I feel the plants have under performed and like goldfish only grown to the size of their containers, I will move to the larger size grow bags.
Good luck with your gardening experience and keep us posted.
Jerry
Jerry, that's exactly what I was wondering-- if the plants would "max out" root-wise before they really get started bearing fruit. I wish I had more than one season each year to try this!
Right now I'm seriously considering 15 gallon Easi-Lift bags, because the price is not too bad. I think with the coir, too, they wouldn't get too heavy for me to move if I need to. I'm sure hubby would help if I asked, but I'd like to be able to say I can do it without his help :-).
One other question, and that is about putting something under the bags. I really want to keep them on our back deck-- that way they're out of harm's way (wild bunnies, lots of local dogs running loose) and I can keep a closer eye on them. My husband is worried about the moisture rotting the deck, though. I told him that from what I've seen here it looks like most people keep their grow bags in some sort of container, or on a tarp, to keep the moisture in the bag from evaporating too quickly. I'm sure this would address his concerns about the deck. I saw a post (from Jay, I think) where he had bought a bunch of dishpans from the dollar store to put under his grow bags and I was thinking I would do the same thing. Does anyone think that this could cause any problems with the plants as long as I make sure the water in the pans doesn't get stagnant or otherwise nasty?
Jerry: Where are you gettting these larger grow bags??? If you look at the depth of the grow bags, compare it to the depth of an EB you will find that the grow bag is about the same depth, now the layflat bags is what I'm concerned about??? I have 3 tomatoes in each layflat bag and 1 tomato in each 5 gallon bag. And those who are planting tomatoes in these verticals??? I'm waiting to see the results there too.
joy
Joy, two plants per lay-flat would be better than three, mainly for room for their top growth and to allow more ventilation between them. As for the root system, tomatoes grow pretty well in five gallons if you are giving them consistent moisture and food. And yes, the "goldfish syndrome" will come into play for certain smaller containers, for example you won't be able to grow a five foot tomato in a quart pot, at least not one that will grow and produce well!
liannenc, WELCOME TO DG! Always good to see a NC neighbor! I can't remember how far away Concord is from me but if it is nearby I'd be glad to offer you a grow bag and coir to get you started (I have hundreds). And yes, you can put a catch tray under your grow bags if you like. You can pick up some pretty inexpensive pottery type trays at all the outlet stores. Not only will it help keep water from running all over your deck but it'll act as a reservoir (albeit a small one) and allow your growing medium to wick it back up on an as-needed basis.
Since you still have the EarthBoxes I would suggest also giving them another try. I bet with your new found enthusiasm you may have better luck this time around!
Again, Welcome!
Shoe
Joy, I buy my grow bags from a hydroponics and organics store in Austin, Tx. It's a small unassuming (it's amazing what can be grown hydroponically in a closet) shoe string operation with a pretty good inventory. They have been in business for 20 years.
I needed a few more bales of coir so I decided to pick up some 7 and 10 gal grow bags while I was there.
If after this year I decide to continue to use the grow bags, I will go to the larger and heavier white bags with handles like the ones Carolyn talks about over on the tomato forum.
Jerry
Jerry: Aha. I will reuse my grow bags next year, the lay flats and the 5 gallon ones, I do prefer the 5 gallon ones though, as I think the flats are just to thin to really grow toms in although I'm giving it a shot. I remember the tomato roots pics from last Spring and just can't see how those huge roots can have much freedom of movement in the lay flats or the stackers; but then again, I don't know everything right? LOL I can't get anything done with all this rain, and it has been nonstop all week.
joy
Shoe, thanks for the welcome! You're just about 2 hours north of me-- I actually passed by about two weeks ago when I had to drive to Raleigh for work. If I head up your way again anytime soon, maybe I'll take you up on your very generous offer! By the way, I just read your "Newbies Growing Oldies" article... very enjoyable, and just what I needed to read. Maybe I'll print it off and leave it where my husband might see it, too!
Jerry, you cracked me up with this:
"It's a small unassuming (it's amazing what can be grown hydroponically in a closet) shoe string operation with a pretty good inventory."
I literally laughed out loud when I read that!
I sent a D-mail to BocaBob today, asking him a question about ordering-- as soon as he gets a chance to answer, I'll be giving my credit card a workout :o). My plants will arrive in about 3 weeks and I'm getting really excited! Thank you all for the input, and I look forward to continuing to read your suggestions and ideas!