It’s been just over a 2 weeks now and I thought you’d enjoy seeing the rate of growth. I watched the first video and compared them and I was shocked! Already have around 40 tomato blooms coming on. Woo Hoo!!
@PrepperJenks That is kind of one of the awesome things about these or better yet, Earth Boxes. The plastic on top keeps your tomatoes from getting so much rain on them and drowning them! The rain rolls off the plastic and very little goes into the bucket. If there is an abundance of water it drains down into reservoir and goes out the drains at the bottom. Voila! You may be able to grow tomatoes! Where are you at?
@LivingHistorySchool nope, Florida. 🙂 I just can't wait to EAT THEM! A little salt, some pepper, maybe a slice of onion and some Ranch dressing, the perfect sandwich. Can even through some alfalfa sprouts in there… Mmmmm…
You might want to move that heirloom tomato away from the others. If you plan on saving the seeds, they will cross pollinate and you won't get an original plant from the seeds. No telling what you'll get.
if you have a bunch of blooms on a tomato of that size especially a beefsteak something is very wrong.. it should be growing roots and stem not even close to blooming yet .. what the heck did you fertilize them with ?
@stymye ancient Chinese secret. LOL No, the container plants tend to grow MUCH faster than if planted in a garden. They have constant moisture but not too much and they have constant fertilizer but not too much. I guarantee you the roots are at the bottom of the bucket or the plants wouldn't have gotten to the size they have already. Beefsteak only has about 4-6 blooms on it right now. The Roma's have bunches and the Better Bush has a bunch as well.
@stymye The heirloom tomato had 2 blooms on it shortly after I bought it and before I put it into the container. I'm gonna lift the top bucket out of one of these and see what the roots are doing. Their should be roots through the holes in the bucket into the reservoir. Lets hope you're not right!
@NeoPrepper it's not uncommon, the nursery probably scimped on fertilizing . so.once you transplanted them they started blooming right away.. nothing wrong with that ,, you can pinch them for stronger growth or leave them for earlier tomatoes .. either way is good. you will have plenty of roots in those containers before long.
@stymye Too many blooms now to pinch them off, at least on Romas. May pinch off the beefsteak though, only 3-4 on that one. I figure they've been in the containers about a month now and the growth has been stupendous. Putting them in ultomato cages now because of heavy rain they got a little bent. They fit around the buckets perfectly. Another vid soon on that.
Nice job the bucket will keep the pests away too. In NJ we have cutter worms that will ruin a garden in two nights. I use bottomless coffee cans and plant the tomato in the can like a collar.It works and helps conserve water. My plants survive it our drought. Not as efficent as yours I am going to try that next year. Thanks
shove a cloce of garlic in your planter – garlic will grow, youll plant will be happy and the bugs HATE IT. Also put mint and lavender around and ur good to go:)
Great update! I watched the first video too. If you are using liquid fertilizer that needs to be mixed with water is this ok to mix a bit of liquid fertilizer in with the water that goes down the pipe? I am thinking about doing this at least once or a few times the first couples times I water the pipe, before the roots grow out the wicking cup. Thanks!
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Cool man! I wish I could grow tomatoes where I am at. Too much rain : (
@PrepperJenks That is kind of one of the awesome things about these or better yet, Earth Boxes. The plastic on top keeps your tomatoes from getting so much rain on them and drowning them! The rain rolls off the plastic and very little goes into the bucket. If there is an abundance of water it drains down into reservoir and goes out the drains at the bottom. Voila! You may be able to grow tomatoes! Where are you at?
you must be in California to have tomatoes like that already…
@LivingHistorySchool nope, Florida. 🙂 I just can't wait to EAT THEM! A little salt, some pepper, maybe a slice of onion and some Ranch dressing, the perfect sandwich. Can even through some alfalfa sprouts in there… Mmmmm…
You might want to move that heirloom tomato away from the others. If you plan on saving the seeds, they will cross pollinate and you won't get an original plant from the seeds. No telling what you'll get.
@Rhiahl good idea, never thought about that. Could get some kind of Frankenstein tomato… "It's Alive!"
looking good bro….thumbs up!
They look great.
I am in Central FL I planted hand grown seeding s March 2, 2011 And I do not have any tomatoes
if you have a bunch of blooms on a tomato of that size especially a beefsteak something is very wrong.. it should be growing roots and stem not even close to blooming yet .. what the heck did you fertilize them with ?
@stymye ancient Chinese secret. LOL No, the container plants tend to grow MUCH faster than if planted in a garden. They have constant moisture but not too much and they have constant fertilizer but not too much. I guarantee you the roots are at the bottom of the bucket or the plants wouldn't have gotten to the size they have already. Beefsteak only has about 4-6 blooms on it right now. The Roma's have bunches and the Better Bush has a bunch as well.
@stymye The heirloom tomato had 2 blooms on it shortly after I bought it and before I put it into the container. I'm gonna lift the top bucket out of one of these and see what the roots are doing. Their should be roots through the holes in the bucket into the reservoir. Lets hope you're not right!
@NeoPrepper it's not uncommon, the nursery probably scimped on fertilizing . so.once you transplanted them they started blooming right away.. nothing wrong with that ,, you can pinch them for stronger growth or leave them for earlier tomatoes .. either way is good. you will have plenty of roots in those containers before long.
@stymye Too many blooms now to pinch them off, at least on Romas. May pinch off the beefsteak though, only 3-4 on that one. I figure they've been in the containers about a month now and the growth has been stupendous. Putting them in ultomato cages now because of heavy rain they got a little bent. They fit around the buckets perfectly. Another vid soon on that.
What potting mix did you use? Store bought pre-mix or your own combo? I'm looking at starting these soon so thanks for the upload!
Tomatoes love moisture, heat and food. They are getting both constantly with your set up. Very nice.
I live in central Florida as well and I planted my tomatoes in February… it is not May and I am harvesting 2-3 tomatoes every day…
Nice job the bucket will keep the pests away too. In NJ we have cutter worms that will ruin a garden in two nights. I use bottomless coffee cans and plant the tomato in the can like a collar.It works and helps conserve water. My plants survive it our drought. Not as efficent as yours I am going to try that next year. Thanks
You should link them together and put a self watering system up!
shove a cloce of garlic in your planter – garlic will grow, youll plant will be happy and the bugs HATE IT. Also put mint and lavender around and ur good to go:)
Great update! I watched the first video too. If you are using liquid fertilizer that needs to be mixed with water is this ok to mix a bit of liquid fertilizer in with the water that goes down the pipe? I am thinking about doing this at least once or a few times the first couples times I water the pipe, before the roots grow out the wicking cup.
Thanks!