craftyhunnypie Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'm transplanting my tomatoes into the growbags tomorrow, against the South facing wall of our works unit - ideal! What I'd like to know is do I need to make drainage holes in the grow bags & should I put a plant pot in he middle hole to use for watering the tomatoes - so that the soil doesn't flood out when I water. Will canes prodded into the soil in the growbag be ok to support them, with a few ties? I normally grow toms in pots, but trying growbags this year & feel a right numpty! Good job you lot know what you're doing. I have minibell, moneymaker & beef tomato plants. yummy! Got tumbling tom in my hanging baskets. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I usually just stick 3 or 4 in the grow bag and thats it. I have never thought of doing other things like drainage etc. They have always faired well. Im sure someone technical will be along shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 the gardeners world dude suggested that you put the grow bag on the side, so it isnt flat to the ground, but looks like a canoe type thing. you push holes in about half way up the sides so you get a little reservoir of water at the bottom. its supposed to be the new way to growbag cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I grow mine in grobags every year, & the bags I get have little pin prick holes,just a few,but enough to keep it drained well. I also have a really neat thing - a long pipe with holes in & a resevoir at one end,to make watering much,much easier You push it into the bag,in the hole where the plant is,so the pie runs along the length of the bag,then water into the resevoir.The water then come out of the holes,all the way along I bought them years ago & would grab some more if I ever saw them again..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Snap . I've found the things Lesley suggests in Dobbies for £5.99 so hope to pick them up instore and save on P&P . I was wondering about watering too . I plan to cut some lawn edging I bought (which is rubbish for lawn edging btw ) and make a collar round each plant so when I pour water in it should collect and seep down rather than pour over the patio. That's the theory anyway . The irrigation system sounds though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I usually just stick 3 or 4 in the grow bag and thats it. I have never thought of doing other things like drainage etc. They have always faired well.Im sure someone technical will be along shortly. ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I bought them years ago & would grab some more if I ever saw them again..... Like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I usually grow them in growbags and they do ok, but it can be hard to water the bag properly. This year I'm trying a tip suggested by sister-in-law, which is to cut a section of plastic drainpipe, stick it into the growbag and plant the tomato through it. This should make it easier to water, and get the water right down to the roots - that's the theory anyway! A long bit of drainpipe was only £5.99 so I'm going to cut some sections off it and try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I've got a narrow trench with growbags planted in it on their sides and four tomato plants in each. I use tomato spirals rather than canes which I dig into the ground just behind the tomato trench. The tom plants then lean back slightly which seems to give the fruit more sun exposure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 A friend of mine uses up-turned squash and lemonade bottles with the bottoms cut off. She puts them into the growbag and waters into them, seems to work. We grow our tomatoes in large pots with the bases removed sunk into the soil in the greenhouse. This seems to work well because they root into the soil but have the nutrient rich compost at the top. I also grow basil and marigolds around the pots to keep whitefly away and it has worked so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Well I have put 2 per growbag & a upside down pop bottle in the middle, to act as a watering funnel. Fingers crossed I get lots of toms. Will pop the canes in over the weekend, as they only have little stakes at the moment. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I bought those cane support thingies today and planted out my tomatoes . It looks fab . I used some lawn edging to make a collar and it worked a treat when watering them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Thought I'd revive this thread - wonder how you're all getting on with your tomatoes? The drainpipe sections have worked a treat - much easier to water into those, than to try watering directly into the growbag and the tomatoes have done well. I also got those cane support things that ANH mentions above, and they were well worth it, although due to my total inability to pinch out side-shoots effectively, my tomatoes are still falling all over the place and have needed extra string! I also have some in pots however, and they have been much easier to water and seem to be doing just as well if not better. I don't think I will bother with growbags next year, I will stick to putting them in pots. I have two cucumbers in a growbag however, and they've done very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 I came back from holiday to find about a foot more growth in height and loads of ickle green tomatoes . I think I should probably have thinned things out a bit more though as there are loads of very thick side branches. They do have flowers or tomatoes on them though so I've left them and just cut off any branches which don't seem to have either on them. I've also got 5 small plants in pots so may try another method for them - perhaps cutting a growbag in half or using a pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Mine are in pots and I have green tomatoes - no red but s'pose thats down to lack on sun. Will make green tomatoe chutney if nothing happens soon. Had one cucmuber plant an elderly patient gave me - 4 cucumbers and counting, his died. I've never grown them before so very pleased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Mine are doing brilliantly. I have 3 x Sungold in one bag, a large plum & a Money Maker in another & 2 mini plum in another. Those cane supports are fantastic - they have made life so much easier & the Q I also have in a Grobag is scrambling up it too I am picking a large handful of cherry tom-toes every day at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
