18 gallon, 1 or 2 plants

rzr · February 25, 2008

I did 2 per container last year, and I am wondering how well having just one plant in one of these containers would do?

TomatoDon · February 25, 2008

One should do better. But how did you like the production of two? I think they are using the 31 gallon containers for two plants, 18 gallons for one plant.

Don

JohnnyRock · March 8, 2008

I measured a real EB at 13 gallons (total), 3 gallons of which is the reservoir, and 10 gallons is for potting mix. Since the EB accomodates 2 plants, that comes out to 5 gallons of mix per plant. So, assuming your container is configured as an HEB, you can easily have 2 plants per container using an 18 gallon container. It might even be possible to grow 3 plants, especially smaller varieties, although staking would be a challenge. I'm curious if someone could report their results of trying 3 plants in 18 or 20 gallon containers.

jwr6404 · March 8, 2008

My pots run from 17-27 gallons each and I only plant 1 tomato per pot. I once tried 2 Anna Russian in a 20+ gallon pot because I read they were wispy plants. I misinterpreted wispy to mean small. I got tomatoes on both plants but they were much smaller than I expected.

Jim

rzr · March 13, 2008

We shall see what happens

All 3 plants were around the same size and are JD's special Ctex. The single boxed plant was planted a little higher up, but it was about the same height before I transferred it.

Tania · March 14, 2008

2 plants per 18 container do very well for me.

creister · March 14, 2008

I know that Mantis down under puts 2 plants in his HEB's and he says they do very well. I have also done two and one and haven't really noticed much difference. The only thing is don't plant determinate or dwarf plants with indeterminates. The larger plant will steal all the sun.

I can also tell you that getting the same average size fruits as listed on the seed packages will vary from garden to garden. Eva Purple Ball in HEB with another plant and one in the garden were about equal in production and fruit size.

Some of my undersized for variety fruits may be due to my own ignorance of raising tomatoes as well. I have also had plants in 5 gallon buckets produce larger or more fruit than ones in ground or HEB.

bingster · April 21, 2008

Here's a photo from last year...two plants per pot...no problems, great production

<a href="http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=IMG_0758.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t/IMG_0758.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

February 25, 2008	#1
rzr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 79	18 gallon, 1 or 2 plants I did 2 per container last year, and I am wondering how well having just one plant in one of these containers would do?

February 25, 2008	#2
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	One should do better. But how did you like the production of two? I think they are using the 31 gallon containers for two plants, 18 gallons for one plant. Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

March 8, 2008	#4
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	My pots run from 17-27 gallons each and I only plant 1 tomato per pot. I once tried 2 Anna Russian in a 20+ gallon pot because I read they were wispy plants. I misinterpreted wispy to mean small. I got tomatoes on both plants but they were much smaller than I expected. Jim __________________ Jim

March 14, 2008	#6
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	2 plants per 18 container do very well for me. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

March 8, 2008	#3
JohnnyRock Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 71	I measured a real EB at 13 gallons (total), 3 gallons of which is the reservoir, and 10 gallons is for potting mix. Since the EB accomodates 2 plants, that comes out to 5 gallons of mix per plant. So, assuming your container is configured as an HEB, you can easily have 2 plants per container using an 18 gallon container. It might even be possible to grow 3 plants, especially smaller varieties, although staking would be a challenge. I'm curious if someone could report their results of trying 3 plants in 18 or 20 gallon containers.

March 14, 2008	#7
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	I know that Mantis down under puts 2 plants in his HEB's and he says they do very well. I have also done two and one and haven't really noticed much difference. The only thing is don't plant determinate or dwarf plants with indeterminates. The larger plant will steal all the sun. I can also tell you that getting the same average size fruits as listed on the seed packages will vary from garden to garden. Eva Purple Ball in HEB with another plant and one in the garden were about equal in production and fruit size. Some of my undersized for variety fruits may be due to my own ignorance of raising tomatoes as well. I have also had plants in 5 gallon buckets produce larger or more fruit than ones in ground or HEB.

April 21, 2008	#8
bingster Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: florida Posts: 5	Here's a photo from last year...two plants per pot...no problems, great production <a href="http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=IMG_0758.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...t/IMG_0758.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>