Using Smart Pots Soft-Sided 100 gallon Container

mick5500 · May 3, 2014

Hello Everyone,
I live in Victorville, CA. Bad winds and lousy dirt. I have a large yard with some limited wind protection in one area were I am growing everything in containers.
I have a large industrial cart that I can put more then the 100 gallon smart pot on and move around to keep in sun and protect from the wind.
Most plants are still only less then a foot high since I have transplanted twice and have a very thick root . I would like to plant some companion plants, garlic , basil or something or should I just go tomato only.

My question is can I transplant my indeterminate tomato and or other plants of 7 to 10 gallon containers into the 100 gallon smart pot ?
How should I treat the amount of plants into this type of container ?
Would 7 plants allowing for 15 gallons per plant ?
Any advice would on using the Smart pot soft sided container would be appreciated.

Thank you

rags57078 · May 3, 2014

measurements would be better . Like 48 inch wide ,48 tall and 48 deep , this was just an example

mick5500 · May 3, 2014

Product Dimensions: 38 x 38 x 20 inches

ohiofem · May 3, 2014

I would treat it like a 10 square foot raised garden and plant no more than four or five indeterminate tomatoes in it. I grow my tomatoes one to a container of 20 to 25 gallon smart pots. I used to do 2 in a 25 gallon pot, but found that I had more problems with disease, needed to prune more and got no better yield from two plants than one. The problem is the spacing between plants should probably be 20-24 inches, and you'd be pretty crowded with 7 tomatoes in there. How are you going to cage or stake them?

luigiwu · May 3, 2014

Why not use a smaller container and plant individual plants in each - that way you to can tend to each one's need. I grow mine in 5 gallon homedepot buckets. This year I'm trying two in a 7gallon root pouch..

experimenting.

augiedog55 · May 3, 2014

I grow my tomatoes in 10 and 15 gallon smart pots in mo. and that seems to work fine for me. The last time I did we had 100+ temp. I had to water twice a day. I use mixture of 65 % promix and 35% Black Kow manure .

mick5500 · May 3, 2014

I am new to this and they had this for $25.00 on Amazon( 100 gallon versus $9.00 for 10 10 gallon seemed like a deal.) It seems pretty stable. I have 8 Tomato plants in 10 gallon pots and 8 Chile in 5 to the 7 gallon pots. My brother gave me enough soil to fill it ,he had delivered from a nursery so just trying to see the best use for this.
Open to any ideas. It is 38 x 38 x 20 inches
Thanks

SharonRossy · May 4, 2014

Even with that width, I would not even put more than 3 tomatoes. Like Ohiofem said, you need 24 inches and grow bags are not like a raised bed with rigid sides. I used grow bags last year - and I tried to put two in a 25 gallon bag, a disaster. If possible, a grow bag of that size could be great for herbs or even eggplants if you like eggplant. Another option would be cucumbers. Just my opinion...
Sharon

falconblack · May 5, 2014

We use flax straw bales.They work great as raised beds.We grow tomatoes,peppers,squash etc.They hold moisture really well and no weeds.

mick5500 · May 5, 2014

Thank You,

I think I will make the 100 gallon smart pot for herbs . So I found a Hydroponics store that has 15 gallon nursery black plastic containers (decent quality) for 7.00 each,20 gallon for $10.00. I do not care how they look.
So last question would you recommend the smart pots over plastic containers as a general rule. And if I had to make a choice as I buy these witch would you recommend the smart pot for if I had to compromise on budget . Tomato's or peppers in the smart pots. The other in plastic containers

SharonRossy · May 5, 2014

I really liked smart pots for tomatoes. You have to fertilize with a very weak dose at least once a day yo every couple of days. And you have to water frequently if it's hot, sometimes twice a day. Smart pots drain well and are breathable. I highly recommend them for tomatoes and eggplants too.

topazgirl170 · May 11, 2014

@Sharon Rossy. I used slow release organic fert. in my smart pots when transplanting. I started foliar spray when they were around 2 or 3 weeks in the smart pot. Also, compost tea works really well in a smart pot. I'm not an experienced gardener though. I experimented and it came out great.

I used cocoa hulls mulch and I didn't have any issues. I've read pros and cons in using cocoa mulch. The smell alone for the first week is worth is

SharonRossy · May 13, 2014

Topaz girl, I also use a slow release fertilizer when planting but because of the frequently watering and the quick draining with true smart pots, I still use a weak dose of a water soluble fertilizer once they are established every couple of days.

May 3, 2014	#1
mick5500 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Victorville ,ca Posts: 23	Using Smart Pots Soft-Sided 100 gallon Container Hello Everyone, I live in Victorville, CA. Bad winds and lousy dirt. I have a large yard with some limited wind protection in one area were I am growing everything in containers. I have a large industrial cart that I can put more then the 100 gallon smart pot on and move around to keep in sun and protect from the wind. Most plants are still only less then a foot high since I have transplanted twice and have a very thick root . I would like to plant some companion plants, garlic , basil or something or should I just go tomato only. My question is can I transplant my indeterminate tomato and or other plants of 7 to 10 gallon containers into the 100 gallon smart pot ? How should I treat the amount of plants into this type of container ? Would 7 plants allowing for 15 gallons per plant ? Any advice would on using the Smart pot soft sided container would be appreciated. Thank you

May 3, 2014	#3
mick5500 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Victorville ,ca Posts: 23	Specs for 100 gallon Smart pot Product Dimensions: 38 x 38 x 20 inches

May 3, 2014	#2
rags57078 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 278	measurements would be better . Like 48 inch wide ,48 tall and 48 deep , this was just an example

May 3, 2014	#4
ohiofem Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: dayton ohio Posts: 17	I would treat it like a 10 square foot raised garden and plant no more than four or five indeterminate tomatoes in it. I grow my tomatoes one to a container of 20 to 25 gallon smart pots. I used to do 2 in a 25 gallon pot, but found that I had more problems with disease, needed to prune more and got no better yield from two plants than one. The problem is the spacing between plants should probably be 20-24 inches, and you'd be pretty crowded with 7 tomatoes in there. How are you going to cage or stake them?

May 3, 2014	#5
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Why not use a smaller container and plant individual plants in each - that way you to can tend to each one's need. I grow mine in 5 gallon homedepot buckets. This year I'm trying two in a 7gallon root pouch.. experimenting.

May 3, 2014	#6
augiedog55 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: oak grove mo Posts: 406	I grow my tomatoes in 10 and 15 gallon smart pots in mo. and that seems to work fine for me. The last time I did we had 100+ temp. I had to water twice a day. I use mixture of 65 % promix and 35% Black Kow manure .

May 4, 2014	#8
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	Even with that width, I would not even put more than 3 tomatoes. Like Ohiofem said, you need 24 inches and grow bags are not like a raised bed with rigid sides. I used grow bags last year - and I tried to put two in a 25 gallon bag, a disaster. If possible, a grow bag of that size could be great for herbs or even eggplants if you like eggplant. Another option would be cucumbers. Just my opinion... Sharon

May 5, 2014	#9
falconblack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 39	We use flax straw bales.They work great as raised beds.We grow tomatoes,peppers,squash etc.They hold moisture really well and no weeds.

May 11, 2014	#12
topazgirl170 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: 8A -Charlotte, NC Posts: 34	@Sharon Rossy. I used slow release organic fert. in my smart pots when transplanting. I started foliar spray when they were around 2 or 3 weeks in the smart pot. Also, compost tea works really well in a smart pot. I'm not an experienced gardener though. I experimented and it came out great. I used cocoa hulls mulch and I didn't have any issues. I've read pros and cons in using cocoa mulch. The smell alone for the first week is worth is

May 13, 2014	#13
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	Topaz girl, I also use a slow release fertilizer when planting but because of the frequently watering and the quick draining with true smart pots, I still use a weak dose of a water soluble fertilizer once they are established every couple of days.