Growing Tomatoes

[geezer]

I am trying a few tomatoes in pots this year - they are growing okay
but do not seem to be ripening to red very well. They remain mostly
green and are now crackening because they probably are almost
completely ripened? Any idea why they won't get red?

Thanks

[Doug Kanter]

"geezer" <wee@willy.com> wrote in message
news:b8d3g15vq4cmad50rd6rj76q44pbe8ual2@4ax.com...
>I am trying a few tomatoes in pots this year - they are growing okay
> but do not seem to be ripening to red very well. They remain mostly
> green and are now crackening because they probably are almost
> completely ripened? Any idea why they won't get red?
>
> Thanks

Ripening time can be the result of many factors, including the variety you
planted, fertility of the soil, moisture, and weather. Be patient with that.
Cracking is often the result of uneven moisture. In other words, letting the
soil get very dry and then watering heavily. Assuring proper moisture is
more of a challenge when growing in pots. Add a thick layer of mulch on top
of the soil. Grass clippings work well (assuming you don't use poisons on
your lawn). Otherwise, get yourself a bad of shredded cedar or hardwood
mulch (NOT PINE). And, find a way to shade the entire pot. Finally, if
you're using clay pots, which are porous, switch to glazed ceramic or
plastic pots next season. And, whatever size you're using, double it.

[geezer]

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 11:33:38 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
<ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Ripening time can be the result of many factors, including the variety you
>planted, fertility of the soil, moisture, and weather. Be patient with that.
>Cracking is often the result of uneven moisture. In other words, letting the
>soil get very dry and then watering heavily. Assuring proper moisture is
>more of a challenge when growing in pots. Add a thick layer of mulch on top
>of the soil. Grass clippings work well (assuming you don't use poisons on
>your lawn). Otherwise, get yourself a bad of shredded cedar or hardwood
>mulch (NOT PINE). And, find a way to shade the entire pot. Finally, if
>you're using clay pots, which are porous, switch to glazed ceramic or
>plastic pots next season. And, whatever size you're using, double it.
>


Thanks for response. You seem to be on the money.

I am using plastic pots, but I am watering very unevenly - like once
every day or two, and very heavily when I do. I am not using any
mulch - will do so next time certainly. I am surprised Pine is not
good to use - I thought tomatoes liked acid. Grass clippings are a
good idea too.

Thanks again

G

[ds549@webtv.net]

i didnt have much luck using pots. i used 5 gallon pot with one plant
and it got quite rootbound. i think thats what slowed things up.the same
variety plant in the ground produced big. lucas

[geezer]

As luck would have it - I had some hardwood mulch left over from the
spring that I can and did put in the pots this morning. Then I
watered a little.

Thanks

[wcrbudox]

The cracking suggest too much water.
Do your pots have drain holes?
Don't water every day. It can cause root rot also, especially if the pots
get too hot.
I don't know your area of the country and climate.
Ripening depends on temperature, sun, and variety.

[geezer]

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 14:26:16 -0500, "wcrbudox" <@galaxy.net> wrote:

>The cracking suggest too much water.
>Do your pots have drain holes?
>Don't water every day. It can cause root rot also, especially if the pots
>get too hot.
>I don't know your area of the country and climate.

Delaware - Been very hot here - some days in mid/high 90s.
Pots do have drain holes.

Thanks

>Ripening depends on temperature, sun, and variety.
>

[wcrbudox]

I posted once but it didn't appear.
It sounds like too much water either from raining or watering.
A lot of the potted tomatoes I have seen around here also have no hole for
drainage.The roots end up boiling or just plain rotting, in our heat.
The slower than expected maturing may be due to the variety and how long
they have been planted.
I don't know where you are or how much heat and sunlight exposure they have
so that limits my answer.
"geezer" <wee@willy.com> wrote in message
news:b8d3g15vq4cmad50rd6rj76q44pbe8ual2@4ax.com...
>I am trying a few tomatoes in pots this year - they are growing okay
> but do not seem to be ripening to red very well. They remain mostly
> green and are now crackening because they probably are almost
> completely ripened? Any idea why they won't get red?
>
> Thanks