arov
Sprout
Posts: 2
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Post by arov on Mar 20, 2015 0:06:40 GMT -5
Hello,
I am new to gardening and since I do not have much room but have a lot of sun in the back of my house I decided to try planting in Smart Pots. I need your help badly.
Today I planted intermediate tomatoes in Smart Pots. My Smart Pots are 20 Gallon and I planted 1 tomato in each pot- and I planted four of these. However, I planted two determinate same tomatoes in one pot that is 20 gallons. I am wondering if this is enough room for two of them together. They are both same variety of tomatoes.
Also, I am looking to plant some cucumbers in my 20 Gallon pots and I am not sure how many to plant per pot. The exact dimensions of my 20 gallon pot is 20 inch diameter x 15.5 inch height.
My husband also likes cherry tomatoes and I am looking to plant two of them in one 20 gallon pot if you guys think that will work.
Also can I plant any red peppers in my 20 gallon pots?
I do not have much room so I am trying to get the most out of my space. Thanks in advance for your help!
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Post by claude on Mar 20, 2015 6:22:58 GMT -5
I always plant 3 seed in every pot..sometimes one is lost or the seed is a dud. I either transplant the extras or cut them off at the soil line. Your pots are plenty big to accommodate peppers and or cukes..just grow them up on a support if you aren't using a compact pot variety. Good luck! You're off to a great start.
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 20, 2015 9:13:01 GMT -5
I don't grow in pots so I have limited experience here but I would say that you would do best with only one tomato per pot for the best production of tomatoes.
I plant my tomatoes in the ground in cages that are 36 inches across and the plants always fill the entire cage so I would say that a 20" pot would do best with just the one plant.
Many people that plant tomatoes in pots trim the side shoots off of their plants to keep them less bushy.
Welcome to the forum. You will get lots of good information here.
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 20, 2015 9:41:44 GMT -5
With in-ground-planted tomatoes it is recommended that each plant be 2 to 3 feet apart. If closer, air circulation is affected and your plants are more susceptible to disease. And production could be diminished. So I would suggest one tomato plant per pot.
Cukes and peppers will do fine in those pots, as well (also one per pot). 20" really isn't very big, for spacing big plants like toms, peppers and cukes.
You might be surprised how many cherry tomatoes can come from one plant! Trellising the cukes is a good idea too.
Welcome!
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 20, 2015 10:09:30 GMT -5
I did plant in pots last year and year before. I have never put tomatoes in a pot however. It is my suggestion to use only one tomato/pot as DW said they need space. I did put cucumbers in pots last year and had 3 plants in each and placed a trellis behind them and they did pretty well. I put 6 or 7 cucumber seeds along the back of pot and thinned to 3. I plan to repeat this again this year. Also, I planted dill toward the front of the pots as it is supposed to improve their flavor.
The one thing you need to do with pots is to make sure the pots drain and that you water more frequently than if they were in the ground because they do dry out faster in the pots. And it helps to put mulch around the plants to help conserve water as well.
Cherry tomatoes are indeterminate and I would stake them as well.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Mar 20, 2015 11:12:33 GMT -5
I'd be inclined as well to limit the number of tomatoes to just one per pot. They do need some ventilation, and too many too close together could prevent that.
On the old forum, someone posted photos of plants that had been crowded together in pots; some of the plants were succumbing to the overcrowding - they weren't healthy looking plants!
I also think there's more likelihood of diseases festering if there's insufficient space and air flow between plants.
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Mar 20, 2015 11:43:47 GMT -5
Another vote for one per pot. Those bad boys get HUGE!! And cherry tomatoes are prolific...I plant one plant and it is more than enough to feed my family of 5, with bunches given away and falling off the vine...in fact, it broke it's support last year, ha ha! My youngest called it her "tomato tree." Cukes, same thing, I would never crowd them. You'll get more production out of one happy plant than two crowded, diseased ones. Welcome, and good luck! Post some pics, we love seeing pics.
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Post by johng44 on Mar 20, 2015 11:49:49 GMT -5
Welcome aboard!! I don't grow in smart pots but I do grow in homemade earthtainers. At least 95% of my garden is in these structures and I get phenomenal results. Spacing is important. At least 3' between tomato plants as stated earlier for air circulation and the same for cukes, squash or other plants of this nature. I do herbs in 2al. tainers, eggplant and peppers in 3.5 gal. tainers and tomatoes in 5, 18 and 30 gal. tainers. Check out these links for info. and construction prints.
earthtainer.tomatofest.com/ and www.tomatofest.com/pdfs/EarthTainer-Construction-Guide.pdf. If you spouse is handy at all with tools he can construct easily. You can usually go by your local supermarket bakery and ask if they have any empty containers and lids. If they have any they are normally free and food grade. You will note that the construction guide uses totes..just use same plans and down size to meet your needs. Try to keep 4" inner table. It will take 2 buckets to make one tainer. Enjoy
There is a wealth of info. in this forum. Someone or many can/will always help.
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Post by ecsoehng on Mar 20, 2015 15:37:02 GMT -5
So John it sounds like you are using buckets instead of totes to make your containers? Is there a web directions pdf for making them out of buckets? Is it two buckets stacked?
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Post by johng44 on Mar 20, 2015 16:45:33 GMT -5
Ecsoehng I also use totes. I have 14 totes ranging from 18 to 30 gal. Everything else not in the few raised beds is in buckets( around 80 etainers) It takes 2 buckets to make one tainer. Cut the botton 4''s of one, cut a center wick hole for a cup to hold the wick( I use old white athletic socks to make wicks), drill holes around the center cut. Cut a V slot on each side of the 4" bed, invert and slide into bucket. An inch above the top of the inverted bucket table drill drain holes on each side main bucket container. All I did was follow the instructions for the totes and made the bucket etainers. Using all toes would be pretty expensive. Buckets are free with lids. For me the totes were free from my sons home remodeling project. He was going to trash them. Check out the links.
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Post by johng44 on Mar 20, 2015 16:50:49 GMT -5
Ecsoehng check out Dearthbox. Don't use those buckets as I don't believe they are food grade. Concept is similar.
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arov
Sprout
Posts: 2
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Post by arov on Mar 21, 2015 2:20:15 GMT -5
Thank you guys for all your help! I will keep you posted . I hope I grow some tomatoes.
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Post by mrsk on Mar 21, 2015 8:15:36 GMT -5
In the hight of summer, you might want to shade your pots a little, not the plant, but the pot, so that they don't get too hot.
And pots will need watering often times everyday.
Enjoy, it is better to do it not perfectly, than not to do it at all.
Mrs K
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 21, 2015 10:59:35 GMT -5
I don't have the earthtainers specifically. I have the potato bags and large planters than I use. And I am thinking of trying squash plants would survive in them...Or maybe the potato bag and the vines would come draped down the sides. I am wondering if the squash bug would find them there? and the squash vine borer? Any thoughts?
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Post by johng44 on Mar 21, 2015 16:38:14 GMT -5
Insects will get to your plants in buckets, bags etc. Spray with neem oil and sprinkle diatomaceous earth in and around the plants. That will certainly help control the pest.
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