The Greenhouse 2015

This year I have researched different methods of tomato growing in the greenhouse and I think I have found the best option.  I have in the past grown tomatoes in the greenhouse borders, in pots and in grow bags and a combination of pots and grow bags.   All gave OK results.   But I suffered from the usual ailments due to watering, both under and over watering.

This year im trying out a new method...

I'm using good quality grow bags as usual.  At the end of the growing season I use the spent contents as a soil conditioner in my raised beds.  However, this year I am only planting two plants per grow bag, as opposed to the normal three (never grown four per bag, perhaps this is better for patio grown plants).  Firstly I turned over the soil in the greenhouse border...

And dug in some farmyard manure and fresh soil conditioner both bought from a garden centre.

I wouldn't use last year's grow bags due to risk of disease...

Once dug in I cut two large rectangles in the base of the grow bag...

This will allow the deep water-seeking roots of the tomato plant to reach down to look for water.  After positioning the bag over the prepared soil, I placed my growing/watering pots in the top of the bag cutting holes to size...

I ruffed the grow bag mixture and placed two plants straight into the pots after removing the seed leaves...

Tomatoes are tropical plants that want to creep along the ground, every little hair on the stem is a new root in the making...

I am not filling the growing pots until the tomatoes have grown above them this year.  This will then allow nutrient seeking roots to form in the pot (at the level I will be applying the tomatoes food).  Hopefully the large rectangle in the base will allow for good drainage and a good supply of water to the plant in the soil underneath the grow bag... I will see what happens!