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Growing Tomatoes

Tomatoes in Smart Pots anyone??

14 years ago

Hello all,

Looking at the 'Smart Pots' for an alternative to raised beds. DH has decided we should keep some grass in our front yard :-(( If anyone has used these please post your experience. Please don't post about regular grow bags because the concept/science is quite different. I have already read the vendor websites but would like comments if anyone has personal experience.

TIA,

DL

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Comments (9)

miesenbacher
14 years ago
Yes, I grew Cowlick's Pink Brandywine in a 10gal Smart Pot last year as a test with excellent results. Plant growth and fruit production were excellent. If you havn't grown tomatoes in containers before I would check out the "Container Gardening Forum" and ask the question there what would be the best aggregate mix to use for the Smart Pot as we do not have the same products here in Germany as you do in the US and you want to use a soiless mix. Also you need to check into cages/supports that are compatible with your Smart Pot as you will need it because of the extensive plant growth. Ami
digdirt2
14 years ago
I have a Dona plant in a 10 gallon Smart Pot on the deck this year as a first experiment with them. So far so good although I would not go with any smaller than the 10 gallon ones.

I did set it up off the deck on a couple of 2" thick wood strips for better drainage and primarily to protect the deck wood since the bottom stays wet all the time.

Dave
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Hi Sunnyside ~ Oh great - then we'll try them together - I am ordering these ---http://www.smartpots.com/ I guess there are different brands? Good Poing DIGdirt - I guess they could be bottom light - I will try some in 5 gallons - I went overboard with the tomato seeds this year and have like 300 little seedlings - So i don't have the room in the yard for all and am so high on growing them I can't stop myself :) Then again - there is an old coot down the street who grew the best beefsteak tomatoes in old dutch boy cans last year so who knows - maybe its the love that makes them thrive :D
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No we are talking about what the plant is growing in regardless of what you call it. And since when is water extraction not considered a accurate form of nutrient testing? Can you document that claim? If that were the case then there would be no point in any one ever having a professional soil test done, no way to determine the nutrient levels of any solid materials including foods. Anyone with any experience with using MG in containers knows that the 3 month claim on the label isn't accurate and if they don't know it up front they quickly learn it. So if you think using MG potting mix adds an element of "convenience" to container gardening then you are mislead. Nutrient supplements, even those in MG, leach out of containers with any top watering and/or rain and need to be replaced regularly. That's one of the primary benefits of bottom watering and self watering containers - leass leaching. This is pretty commonly knowledge here, on Container Gardening, and on most any other gardening resource as well and documented testing is readily available. The most common recommendation when working with containers is to supplement them weekly in a diluted form. You might want to do some more reading on exactly what 5-1-1 mix is and what it isn't. I suggest the link below. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: 5-1-1 Mix in detail and FAQs
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Well, indeterminate, hopefully not a ginormous type. You're right, I need to think more about diameter rather than volume. I got a yardstick and measured out what the diameter of a 20 gal container would be, and it was way too small. I would need at least a 45 gallon container with a 27 inch diameter, or, as you said, 3 separate smaller containers. I was afraid the smaller containers would dry out faster than I could keep them watered. Thanks!
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I know summer is still in full swing, but I know I'll forget to ask later on. So while I still remember and have time, I wanted to know if anyone stored used potting soil in a root pouch/smart pots on a fire escape over winter. I would like to reuse the soil and from reading online here and elsewhere most people seem to leave the soil in the container used outside. The problem is I used unglazed terra cotta containers which I know I'll have to store indoors to prevent damage from the cold. Since I planned to purchase a root pouch/smart pot to use next year, I figured I could purchase one now, store the soil in it and have it ready for use come spring. My questions are: If using a root pouch/smart pot, did you cover the top from the elements or do anything in particular to keep pests out? Is it possible to add used coffee grounds/mulch/etc to the soil to compost over winter in these conditions? Is it advised in this case or foolhardy because of potential vermin and pests? Anything in particular to know or consider? Thanks.
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digdirt2
14 years ago
I used Pro-Mix BX with Osmocote mixed in and it is on my drip irrigation system for watering and regular fertigation feeding.

Dave
timmy1
14 years ago
Mine are growing fine in dumb pots...

10 gal is plenty of media, like Dave said, "Fertigation" is key.
lesmatzek209
14 years ago
hi dl,

i have 6 smart pots, one is a 45 gallon it has a artichoke
plant, 2 fifteen gallon 1 has a aplause tomato plant in it
the other one has a silvery fir tree in it, the other one has a fireworks in it, the other one has a mariannas peace,
and two of them have bloddy butchers in them, i also have
two 15 gallon nursery pots they are growing and look as good as the ones in smart pots.

i am hopeing that when the killer heat sets in that the smart pots will keep the plants cooler as they say they
will ???.

i will wait till fall to see if i will use them next year,
but for now i can not see any difference between the smart
pots and nursery pots, regards and happy gardening.

les
dancinglemons
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone!! I will be using them for the first time this year thanks to all the positive responses. I will start with 2 - 10 or 20 gallon SmartPots. We will use the fertigation as recommended on these forums.

DL
austinnhanasmom
14 years ago
Awesome ideas!!

I put a Polish Dwarf, indoors, in a Smart Pot - maybe only 5 gallon. It looks good but needs staking.

I also put a pepper plant in one, 5 gallon I think.

I also put broccoli in a 15 gallon.

For now, they are all doing well indoors.
californian
14 years ago
I was reading something yesterday that said that some report that tomatoes grown in these automatic watering pots end up being watery as the soil ends up being constantly too wet. Is that true?
digdirt2
14 years ago
californian I think you are talking about the problems posted about self-watering containers (SWC), not Smart Pots.

But yes, some have posted that using the MG Moisture Control mix in self-watering containers may pose problems and others have commented on the importance of the proper mix in a SWC to prevent the soil remaining to wet. Check out the Earthtainer and the Earthbox discussions for more details on thar - they are both self-watering containers.

Smart Pots are not self-watering or automatic watering containers.

Dave

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