Stupid gardener question
Ok, so maybe I do call myself a plant ecologist but that doesn't mean I have any sense when it comes to growing domestic plants, and I'll prove it to you.
I just set up a planter on my balcony and put in some tomatoes. I bought the tomatoes without considering their size at maturity. This varietal (Beefsteak) claims to produce 1-pound tomatoes and will be about 3-feet tall at maturity. I'm growing these in 1-gallon pots. Oops.
So, can I fix my mistake or are they likely to be a dead loss? Will the plants naturally dwarf themselves because they're root bound? Should I repeatedly top them to try and get them to go bushy instead of tall?
Any input will be appreciated.
I just set up a planter on my balcony and put in some tomatoes. I bought the tomatoes without considering their size at maturity. This varietal (Beefsteak) claims to produce 1-pound tomatoes and will be about 3-feet tall at maturity. I'm growing these in 1-gallon pots. Oops.
So, can I fix my mistake or are they likely to be a dead loss? Will the plants naturally dwarf themselves because they're root bound? Should I repeatedly top them to try and get them to go bushy instead of tall?
Any input will be appreciated.
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If you planted them from seed wait until you get a small plant then move them in to a large planter. They will not dwarf, and if you top them you will not get fruit. People grown planter veggie all the time on apartment balcony. 0 -
Beefsteak is a indeterminate type tomato, you should have asked for a determinate (short plant) for your pot planting. Dont cut it, let it grow but you are going to have to put a cage around it or stake it as it will eventualy fall over. Feed it with a low nitrogen liquid fertilizer other wise all you wil get is a lot of green leaves. Hope this helps 0 -
You say it's on your balcony. Let it grow, as it gets taller, carefully bend it over and tie it along the railing. If it reaches the end, double back and let it continue to grow. You will have hanging tomatoes you can pick. You may have to put them in a support (something like a fish net type of thing) if they reach their full size, but probably not. 0 -
spurgemastur,like the others have said container gardning is fun,in your case if they are in the hot sun and need watered more because of a small container,simply get a larger one cut the gallon cont. in half or the bottom out and place in a hole in your new container,most likely keeping them from drying out in a small container will be your biggest challenge,good luck, and we want pics,[:D][:p] 0 -
for container growing pick dwarf variety plants .its still early 0 -
Thanks for the info everybody. One simple question and I've learned a stack!
Somebody asked for a picture. Here's my setup.
Left to right it's tomato with lemon basil seeds, cinnamon basil with marigold seeds, no plant showing with tomato and laurentia seeds, and tomato with lavender seeds. I know the lavender won't flower this year but I believe the foliage is fragrant, too.
For now, I think I'll leave the plants in their pots and use the upright supports on the balcony as stakes when the time comes. If the water situation gets too dire I'll repot into something larger.
Next time I'll know to be a little more careful in the plants I select.
Edit: The picture is looking to the northeast so these plants get morning sun until about 11AM and are shaded during the hottest part of the day.0 -
You are gonna need a bigger pot Spurgemaster, but if it works there is nothing better than Beefsteak tomatos. 0
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