Size of Tomatoes in Containers ~

[Tomstrees]

My plants look great , production and
all -
but the size of the tomatoes
aren't as big as when I grow them
in my garden ~
I do not grow for size -
But when a variety says "baseball"
and I get golf ball, I think its not growing to its
"full potential" ~
Any suggestions ?

~ Tom

[montanamato]

Tom, I think you will generally see a bit smaller fruit in contaainers. I often get fruit smaller than expected in my garden plants too.

I have gone to mainly salad size and cherries in my containers with a few exceptions. I like the handiness of the plants for using during the day if they are on my back porch, as the garden is a little ways out.

This year I have noticed on 4 or 5 varieties that hte first fruit were smaller and the later summer fruit is much larger. This has only been in the containers. I never worry much about size as I usually prefer medium size determinates.

I still like having a lot of containers for insurance and most of the dwarf types are as nice looking as flower pots.

Jeanne

If you look at the Ukranian Heart thread it looks like Mark is not getting fruit much smaller than others!

[feldon30]

Tomstrees,

Forgive my terrible memory, but are you using self-watering containers and fertilizing often enough? I think in containers, you can do a foliar feed more often than you would in the ground.

[Tomstrees]

Feldon27 -

Nope - only using 5 gallon
buckets that I water every other
day ~
I don't use fertilizer - do you think that could
attribute to "smaller" matos ?

~ Tom

[Suze]

Nope - only using 5 gallon
buckets that I water every other day ~
I don't use fertilizer - do you think that could
attribute to "smaller" matos ?

Tom, it very well could.

You need to occasionally use something in the way of fertilizer for container toms. The frequent watering just depletes the medium so fast.

Read some of mdvpc's posts on what he uses and how often since you prefer to garden organically.

[honu]

Tom, I agree w/ Suze. What did you put into your potting mix initially? Where are your drain holes located?
What varieties are you growing in 5 gal?
Some things that may have contributed to improved yield in my container plants:
- introducing mycorrhizal fungi into the transplant roots.
- following Suze's advice on adding lime
- Bigger pots (15 gal) rather than 5.
- For pots w/ drain holes on bottom, placing a reservoir underneath pot to let plants drink up the entire 2 gal of water/plant per day, rather than letting most of the water drain off.
- Adding 1/3 recommended strength of mild liquid organic fert (such as Earth Juice) into the water once/week (rather than full strength every 3 weeks).
- Avoiding high nitrogen fert.

[mdvpc]

Tom- I use Espoma Tomato Tone and Monty's Joy Juice. Here is the link for tomato tone:

http://www.espoma.com/content.aspx?t...ntCategoryID=4

If that suits your needs, its very good. I have grown plants in 5 gallon containers only using tomato tone and it did the job. It will slow release and keep your plants cooking. I believe your problem is not enough fert. In a 5 gallon container if you aren't fertilizing, you are starving your plants. You could also try spudleafs method, which is a good compost tea every week or so, by foliar or soil drench. I have never used that myself exclusively, but spudleaf does.

[Tomstrees]

re: answers to questions:

What did you put into your potting mix initially?
I stopped at a construction site; ran in ; got 5 5-gallon pots worth of dirt - I then added stones in the bottom for drainage - 1 quarter reg. dirt - 1 quarter compost - and 1 quarter potting soil mix ...

Where are your drain holes located? They are located in a circular fashion on the bottom of the buckets ~ I think roots have pushed through them , and they are now growing into the lawn ~

What varieties are you growing in 5 gal?
Cherokee Purple - Mary Ann - Lillians Yellow Heirloom ~

Should I add more compost when I get home tonight ?

~ Tom

ps.
I will look into Espoma Tomato Tone and Monty's Joy Juice either this fall - but def. for next year ~

[Mantis]

De nutrients are lacking eh. Potted plants need to be fed. It is a fine art to getting them the right amount without overdoing it and causing BER. I got some really big Carbons last year and very late. I think the roots worked there way down into the soil through the very large drainage holes I put in them. Careful fertilising is the go.

[Tomstrees]

yeah ~ seems
like I'm gonna have to give em
a good "boot in the roots" ~

Tom

ps.
compost tea should do ~

[mdvpc]

Tom-I use a soiless potting mixture and add only tomato tone, and use the foliar with kelp sometimes, about every 3 weeks or so, especially during fruit set.

[Mantis]

I am trying Sudden Impact for Roses organic fert this year in some pots. It is 9:4:12 so I have added some super phosphate to get the P level up.
Michael , do you mix the tomato tone into the potting mix or put it on top of the mix? I am trying a strip around the edge of the pot buried just under the surface, similar to earthbox instructions.

[MsCowpea]

Mantis, I expect Michael will answer too but here is what the EB people recommend: As you are using an organic fertilizer you mix 3 cups INTO 75 quarts worth of potting mix (+ the 2 cups of dolomite).

If it is a synthetic fertilizer you place a 2 cup strip on top of the potting mix (+ the 2 cups of dolomite mixed into potting mix).

With both methods you must cover the container with plastic.

(I have used organic fertilizer in SW containers many times and always mix it in. )

[jwr6404]

I grow all my tomatos in pots and find that the size is pretty much as depicted. Having said that all my pots were 22-30 gallon in size and I put the smaller plants in the 22 gallon pots and of course the larger varieties in the 30 gallon pots.

[mdvpc]

Mantis-When I put the Tone in before the plant, I put 180 cc's of Tone and mix it in thoroughly all throughout the mix. When I put the tone in after the plant is in, I amend every 3-4 weeks with 60 cc's and put in on top of the mix, scratch it in a little-this goes in a band maybe 3 inches or so from the stem.