Root Structure in an Open Container

amideutch · November 15, 2009

This is the same plant from the other thread I posted on Perlite in aggregate and the plant was Belmonte. Mycorrhizae and Actinovate was applied to the roots of the seedling and in the planting hole of the container. I cut the root ball in sections and photographed each and washed the main root structure which was cut in two sections. The interior of the root ball was full of fine roots and the outside of the root ball had extensive root growth as well that went to the bottom of the container. Comments are welcome. Ami

**mdvpc** · November 15, 2009

Ami-I wonder what the difference would be with a smart pot. I am trialing them now in my greenhouse.

amideutch · November 15, 2009

Michael, I grew Purple haze in a 1 gallon SmartPot and Cowlicks in a 10 gal SmartPot. And of course the roots grew through the 1gal SP so I couldn't remove the plant from it. Today I just cut off the Cowlicks and tomorrow I'll see about removing it from the SP. I'll post tomorrow what I found. Ami

**mdvpc** · November 15, 2009

Great-am very interested in that. With the prices of the smart pots, only being able to use them once is bad. May have to rethink the spring containers now that you posted that.

amideutch · November 21, 2009

Michael, removed the Cowlick's from the 10 gal SmartPot with a minimum amount of effort and some roots had penetrated the bottom and no roots penetrated the side of the SmartPot. Roots that penetrated the bottom were small and easily removed with no damage to the pot. I will be able to reuse this particular SmartPot next year. As I grew Cowlick's in this pot which is a Brandywine Pink Indeterminate I see no need to use larger size SmartPots for tomatoes and can probably use a smaller size but don't know if the pot will be reusable. Going to trial a 7 and a 5 gal next year. Am I happy with the performance of the SmartPot, very much so. Growth and fruit production of the Cowlick's was excellent. I will have to come up with better method of plant support as the SmartPot does not give you very many options as do the plastic containers I use. Ami

http://www.smartpots.com/3-10-gallon-containers

**mdvpc** · November 21, 2009

Ami-thanks for posting this.

outsiders71 · December 18, 2009

You can make your own smart pots out of landscape fabric, zip-ties, and some patience.

November 15, 2009	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Ami-I wonder what the difference would be with a smart pot. I am trialing them now in my greenhouse. __________________ Michael

November 15, 2009	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Michael, I grew Purple haze in a 1 gallon SmartPot and Cowlicks in a 10 gal SmartPot. And of course the roots grew through the 1gal SP so I couldn't remove the plant from it. Today I just cut off the Cowlicks and tomorrow I'll see about removing it from the SP. I'll post tomorrow what I found. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

November 15, 2009	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Great-am very interested in that. With the prices of the smart pots, only being able to use them once is bad. May have to rethink the spring containers now that you posted that. __________________ Michael

November 21, 2009	#5
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Michael, removed the Cowlick's from the 10 gal SmartPot with a minimum amount of effort and some roots had penetrated the bottom and no roots penetrated the side of the SmartPot. Roots that penetrated the bottom were small and easily removed with no damage to the pot. I will be able to reuse this particular SmartPot next year. As I grew Cowlick's in this pot which is a Brandywine Pink Indeterminate I see no need to use larger size SmartPots for tomatoes and can probably use a smaller size but don't know if the pot will be reusable. Going to trial a 7 and a 5 gal next year. Am I happy with the performance of the SmartPot, very much so. Growth and fruit production of the Cowlick's was excellent. I will have to come up with better method of plant support as the SmartPot does not give you very many options as do the plastic containers I use. Ami http://www.smartpots.com/3-10-gallon-containers __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!' Last edited by amideutch; November 21, 2009 at 04:07 PM.

November 21, 2009	#6
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Ami-thanks for posting this. __________________ Michael

December 18, 2009	#7
outsiders71 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 150	You can make your own smart pots out of landscape fabric, zip-ties, and some patience.