Spacing Tomatoes in Grow Bags

[plantmark]

In past years I have used 6 grow bags in my greenhouse in an 8' section, each with 3 plants. I place them short side to the glass laying inwards which gives a space of about 30cm between each bag. I use auto watering and they never dry out. Last year I grew Sunburst and the crop wasn't that great.

Hoping to improve things this year, I intend to use open bottom pots on the grow bags and just considering whether it may be better to do just 4 bags this year and give better spacing - more light?

[DavidT]

If you are only growing 12 plants, then fine, but don`t try growing 18 plants in them.

[airconednightmare]

Originally Posted by plantmark

In past years I have used 6 grow bags in my greenhouse in an 8' section, each with 3 plants. I place them short side to the glass laying inwards which gives a space of about 30cm between each bag. I use auto watering and they never dry out. Last year I grew Sunburst and the crop wasn't that great.

Hoping to improve things this year, I intend to use open bottom pots on the grow bags and just considering whether it may be better to do just 4 bags this year and give better spacing - more light?

i have a feeling the fact they never dry out at all may have something to do with the poor harvest.

are the plants generally stunted/slow growing/slightly droopy looking? if so i reckon the roots need more 02 as per your other thread.

try putting a simple timer on the 'auto watering' system...in soil you want to drench and then dry out rather than drip feed

also try adding perlite and/or vermiculite to the soil...this will help retain both water and oxygen

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by airconednightmare

i have a feeling the fact they never dry out at all may have something to do with the poor harvest.

are the plants generally stunted/slow growing/slightly droopy looking? if so i reckon the roots need more 02 as per your other thread.

try putting a simple timer on the 'auto watering' system...in soil you want to drench and then dry out rather than drip feed

also try adding perlite and/or vermiculite to the soil...this will help retain both water and oxygen

I agree that too much water starves the roots of oxygen but when watering tomato plants you must not drench the plants then allow them to dry out as this causes split fruits. It's important to water tomato plants on a regular basis but do not drown the plants and do not allow the plants to dry out.

[airconednightmare]

Originally Posted by Lesley Jay

I agree that too much water starves the roots of oxygen but when watering tomato plants you must not drench the plants then allow them to dry out as this causes split fruits. It's important to water tomato plants on a regular basis but do not drown the plants and do not allow the plants to dry out.

well aye, i'm not suggesting you let them dry out completely...just so that the top few cm's (that's in pots rather than grow bags - i don't use them!) are dry and below that is still moist. hence the roots get a good mix of air/water/nuts rather than being starved/over supplied with one or more of the above