I'm not a very experienced gardener, but I managed to grow tomatoes on my patio last year. I saved some seeds which grew well. I lost one to the wind when they went out in the growbag, which I replaced. I also planted some marigold seeds in the bag.
I noticed tonight most of the marigold seedling have died and one tomato plant looks a bit sorry. Think I've watered them from the grey water can; would that do it?
Libby
not sure, are we talking soapy grey water?
Old Lob
Libby wrote:
not sure, are we talking soapy grey water?
Yes!
agapanthus
Is the growbag in a greenhouse? If not it still could be too cold for them. Also, when I used to grow in bags I found that there was never enough compost in the bags. A friend recommended putting the growbags on their sides and by adding more compost, the roots of the plants have a larger area and more compost to get their roots into. You may have to support the edges with bricks or the like to stop the bag from falling over. As to the grey water, I would be very choosy, go for water that has'nt had too much soap in it and try not to overwater.....just water when the surface of the compost is a bit dry. Hope this helps.
Aqui
with growbags, I fold the plastic in two, dividing the compost up equally then cut across the middle, so you have two growbag pots. Put one tomato into each "pot".
Grey water is not recommended for pots (as the chemicals in the grey water will build up) or for edibles, whether in pots or in the ground (as you might end up eating the chemicals). You should use fresh tap water or rain water in pots and on all edible crops. They recommend grey water for well established shrubs, tough periennials, that sort of thing. But unless it's really hot these shouldn't need watering anyway!
Old Lob
They are outside where I grew tomatoes successfully lat year.
As nearly all of the marigold seedlings in the edge of the bag have died, I must assume it's the grey water! I think the toms may survive, except perhaps one!
Libby
Aqui wrote:
with growbags, I fold the plastic in two, dividing the compost up equally then cut across the middle, so you have two growbag pots. Put one tomato into each "pot".
That is clever Aqui, another tip my mum got when visiting a garden centre with the W.I. was plant mint around the bottom of each tomato and you will never have problems with little pests. Apparently this place have always done it and even sent it in to the BBC, and Gardeners question time as it has been so successful but it has never been used!!
I shall give it a go this year!!!
Old Lob
May not have been the water after all! The remaining marigold seedlings have now also gone, but then I noticed the tell tale slime trails!
So I made a nice ommlette and put the shells around the tomato plants.
Got some more mature marigold plants coming next week so I'll pop a couple of them in the edge of the bag.
Thanks for the advice!
Libby
the little blighters ate my marigold seedlings too
