Tomatoes: pots, feeding questions

[Jux]

I was given 3 tomato plants in pots, two of which already have small green fruit. The person who gave them to me was not the person who grew them, and couldn't tell me anything about caring for them.

We are very new to gardening. I had some tomato feed as I knew these plants were coming. The instructions said 15ml in 1.5 gal would feed 9 plants, so I divided by 3 and mixed 5ml with .5 gal. This was the instructions for indoor plants, so I poured the mix into the tray they'd come in and oh boy, is it full!

I am scared that if I leave the pots in the water-filled tray they will drown or rot or something. But if I take them out then they won't get their feed.

(The friend who grew them has gone abroad and I can't contact him for two weeks.)

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

If the soil/compost/whatever they're growing in is damp enough to stick (lightly) to your fingers when you touch it, it has enough water for your plants. You don't need to give them the full half gallon every time - the proportions of feed to water should be right, but you don't have to use the whole mix at once, iyswim. (It doesn't go off the way that formula milk does.)

Take the pots out of the water-filled tray and let them drain a bit. They'll be fine; they're not human babies.

[isthatporridgeinyourhair]

OP - loving the description of the aquatic tomato plants. Do what old Lady says and you'll be fine.

[Jux]

Thanks, I'll do that. Didn't realise I could keep the feed.

And love the idea of them being human babies!

[Chatelaine]

Do not feed them every time you water them, otherwise you will get masses of green foliage at the expense of tomatoes. Once every 2 weeks is fine. When you water, stop when you see it draining out. They need as much sunshine as you can give them. A tomato plant will grow and grow as long as it can, you do not want this. Stop it growing when you have about 6-8 groups of fruit growing, by cutting off the top of the plant. Otherwise it puts all its energy into producing more/poor quality toms which will not ripen. Enjoy!

[Jux]

Ah thank you Chatelaine, that's really worth knowing too. I had one last year that grew like that. Now I know what I'm doing wrong. These are about 10" tall. Two have one set of fruit each.

I'd like to put them in a bed outside but I'm not sure whether I should or not. I have some seeds, but I know we have a bad slug problem and I have to grow in pots until things are stronger.

[Chatelaine]

IMO, stop feeding them, just water, and see what happens. don't let them get too tall. Toms are great fun, and it's worth observing the effects of what you do differently, year by year. Different varieties to experiment with! Yours sound quite sturdy now, so no problem with planting them outside in garden soil. Dig a bigger hole and fork/mix in some compost & broken egg shell if you can. Water the hole. Plant the toms quite deep, right up their stems to the foliage, as this makes for stronger roots. Water in well. In my experience, slugs do not go for estalbished toms.

[Jux]

I'm trying to upload a pic of my tomatoes in the bed, but it's being a bit difficult.

Anyway, I've planted them. Dug a BIG hole for each and put in compost and broken up eggshells and then put them in and filled it up.

I've also put carrots around them and a basil plant nearby. I got a few marigolds this morning so they've gone in along the front of this bed. They look a bit forlorn so spread out but maybe they'll seed a bit?

Also put loads of garlic round the roses.

It's quite exciting. I keep looking out of hte window to see if I can see anything growing!