What size pots for tomatoes.. and/or when to put them outside

[lewic]

Ive got a variety of tomatoes and not sure how big pots to put them in, or whether they would be better in the ground.

Have several Italian beefsteak seedlings that were grown from seed (no name) that are currently in 3" pots and are still small and straggly.

The others are from garden centres and much healthier..

A couple of Totems, supposed to be suitable for patios. Currently in 7" pots, about a foot high.

One Cherry tomato plant (no other name) in 8" pot, is about 18" high. Has some tiny flowers forming.

One Moneymaker bought at the weekend, currently in a 3" pot.

I've only got a mini greenhouse and am not sure how big these get, but have heard that if you put them outside in the ground then youre likely to get blight. Was thinking of keeping them as patio plants but if they require a dustbin-full of compost it will cost a fortune. Any advice?

Thanks

Cath

[lewic]

[shirlton]

We grow all of ours in flower buckits from the supermarkets

[daileg]

Ive got a variety of tomatoes and not sure how big pots to put them in, or whether they would be better in the ground.

Have several Italian beefsteak seedlings that were grown from seed (no name) that are currently in 3" pots and are still small and straggly.

The others are from garden centres and much healthier..

A couple of Totems, supposed to be suitable for patios. Currently in 7" pots, about a foot high.

One Cherry tomato plant (no other name) in 8" pot, is about 18" high. Has some tiny flowers forming.

One Moneymaker bought at the weekend, currently in a 3" pot.

I've only got a mini greenhouse and am not sure how big these get, but have heard that if you put them outside in the ground then youre likely to get blight. Was thinking of keeping them as patio plants but if they require a dustbin-full of compost it will cost a fortune. Any advice?

Thanks

Cath

Lewic

You might get blight if there in doors in a greenhouse as there more prone to it being outside as its airbourne brought on by the rain spores are created and come on the wind
anyhow getting back to your question 9 inch pots tend to be the best with the bottoms cutting out placed over a good quality grow bag place the tomatoes to the bottom of the 9 inch pots as they grow up the pot earth up as you do potatoes thus allowing for good rooot growth as the grow from the side of the stem as the plant grows

beefstake are a bush varity as far as im aware grown best outside manymaker do well in or out will grow in excess of six foot and so will the cherry try and keep the in full sun water the rrots or from the grow bag only allowing the top of the soil in the pot to stay dry only water when needed the plant will tell you when and how much if you grow in the soil direct should do fine 

[1066]

Agree with all thats been posted, but slightly different as I use grow bags emptied into those black buckets (or any large pot) in a sunny spot on the patio.