Tomato plants potting

Discussion in 'Propagation This Month' started by Bee, Apr 29, 2025.

  1. Bee

    Bee Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2025
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Female
    Ratings:
    +0
    I have the plug plants of tomato and I think they are quite big. There are 5 plug plants ( two of one cariety and 3 of other). Can I just transfer them to big pots and can I plant 2 in same pot or one plug plant for each pot ( photos attached).
     

    Attached Files:

  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    56,454
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +110,189
    I usually put in final pots when they show flower buds.
    I'd stick to just one per pot but obviously it depends on the size of the pot. :smile:

    They look like good plants.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Stephen Southwest

      Stephen Southwest Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 11, 2020
      Messages:
      288
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +343
      I'd always only pot 1 tomato in a pot, myself.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • Goldenlily26

        Goldenlily26 Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 20, 2024
        Messages:
        1,403
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Cornwall
        Ratings:
        +4,512
        I would repot each plant individually into separate pots and wait for them to develop new top growth before potting them on into their final big pots. Growing more than one tomato plant per pot doesn't work. I have tried it. They are hungry plants and can grow big, 3-4 ft+ tall. I usually put my plants into their final pots when they are about 12 ins. tall, remove the lower 1 or 2 pairs of leaves and plant them deep in their big pots, covering the lower 2 joints with compost as they will form roots along the stems.
         
        • Agree Agree x 2
        • Like Like x 1
        • Bee

          Bee Apprentice Gardener

          Joined:
          Apr 27, 2025
          Messages:
          14
          Gender:
          Female
          Ratings:
          +0
          Thanks a lot. Should I grow them in growing bag or in pots?
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jun 3, 2008
          Messages:
          34,045
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Surrey
          Ratings:
          +54,084
          My choice is to grow in soil so the roots have unlimited space.

          If you don't have a bed for them pots would be my next choice, very big pots though, 20 litres at least. I've used 35l in the past. Pots means you lose space if in a greenhouse, the plants soon hit the roof.

          Grobags are not ideal in my experience as they have such a small volume and are shallow for roots. I have tried them, 3 plants per grobag is too many. I have tried double grobags, stacked on top of each other with the plastic cut away. Also tried cutting them in half and standing up to get more root space.

          The big problem for me with both pots and bags is watering, it needs to be done twice daily at the peak of the season. Growing in soil means they can be left for a few days.
           
          • Agree Agree x 2
          • Goldenlily26

            Goldenlily26 Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Mar 20, 2024
            Messages:
            1,403
            Gender:
            Female
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Cornwall
            Ratings:
            +4,512
            I personally think Grow Bags are a waste of money. I have tried them and found the compost in them very coarse, if used on their sides as recommended there is not enough depth of growing medium for tomato roots, they need support in the way of 3 canes as well. I ended up using the bags stood on end lengthways which only took 1 plant.
            I now use the largest pots I can fit into my greenhouse, 4 pots down each side. By the end of the season the pots are solid with roots from top to bottom. Compost can be almost anything, the essential is to feed the tomatoes every week once the flowers appear. They are very hungry and produce a big crop of fruit and a lot of foliage on comparatively small plants. It is better to feed a weak solution often than occasional strong doses. For a long time I grew my tomatoes in old compost sacks turned inside out and stood in washing up bowls as drip trays. I rolled the tops of the sacks down to about half way to make a rim or handle and punched holes in the bottoms for drainage. Cheap but effective. Easily replaced. Beggars cannot be choosers.
            I cannot grow tomatoes outside as Blight is endemic down here so only grow them in a 6x8ft greenhouse, no heating, shaded with old lace curtains or similar. Door and window open day and night.
            Except I have to rethink as there is a new resident cat which likes to poo inside my greenhouse, I have a metal grid which I am hoping I can use across the door.
            Heath Robinson effort.
             
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • CarolineL

              CarolineL Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Jun 12, 2016
              Messages:
              2,884
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              Retired Software engineer
              Location:
              Rural Carmarthenshire
              Ratings:
              +7,287
              @Goldenlily26 if you put sticks horizontally across the tops of the pots, it should deter them. The metal grid in the door way will need to be very tall!
               
            • Goldenlily26

              Goldenlily26 Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 20, 2024
              Messages:
              1,403
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              Retired
              Location:
              Cornwall
              Ratings:
              +4,512
              Caroline,9 this wretched cat just poos on the ground, on the weed matting.
              The grid I found here when I moved. It has a frame and feet at each end, it is about 8ft tall when tipped on end and is really heavy so hopefully should work.
               
            • Purple Streaks

              Purple Streaks Gardener

              Joined:
              Aug 13, 2012
              Messages:
              664
              Location:
              Sconthorpe
              Ratings:
              +929
              Golden lily26
              I have sent you a pm,
               
            Loading...

            Share This Page

            1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
              By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
              Dismiss Notice