Smart Pot container size

Dak · May 5, 2011

I'm looking at trying some Smart Pots for some of the tomatoes I don't have room for in the ground. Anyone with any experience with them?

What size would be good for, say, Brandywine Sudduth or Black Krim? 15 gallon?

Thanks!

amideutch · May 5, 2011

Dak, grew Cowlick's in a 10gal Smart Pot with excellent results. Anything above a 7 1/2 gal will work fine. Plant support is critical as the Smart Pot does not lend itself very well for plant support . If you have a fence then placing your Smart Pot up against it you can use it for plant support. Otherwise you need to erect a cage around the pot for plant support. Ami

Dak · May 5, 2011

Thank you, Ami. The makers of Smart Pots are coming to a local store tomorrow, 25% off!

I hadn't thought about support yet, I'm glad you mentioned it. I should build them close to my fence.

John3 · May 5, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Anything above a 7 1/2 gal will work fine. Plant support is critical as the Smart Pot does not lend itself very well for plant support . If you have a fence then placing your Smart Pot up against it you can use it for plant support. Otherwise you need to erect a cage around the pot for plant support. Ami

Ami you mention a 7 1/2 gal Smart Pot where do you get the 7 1/2 gal? At the Smart Pot site I couldn't fine a 7 1/2 gal - they only listed 7 gal and 10 gal. Is the 7 1/2 a special order? Or is there somewhere else pots like this can be gotten in 7 1/2 gal size? I have several hundred feet of chain link space - I guess they could be placed side by side as they are self contained and would you use your Actinovate, MyGrow and Biota Mix? And what size pot would you recommend for determinate tomatoes?

amideutch · May 5, 2011

John, your right it's 7 gal. Don't know where the 1/2 came from.

I use the same size pot's whether they be Ind. or Det.. Dwarfs are a different story. I use the Biota, Myco, Actinovate in all my container plant outs.

The nice thing about putting your plants on a fence line is you can butt the container up to the fence and even if you can't secure your cage to the container you can tie wrap it to the fence. Or you can use the fence to support the plant again using tie wraps. Ami

John3 · May 5, 2011

Thanks Ami for the tips

amideutch · May 5, 2011

Here is a picture of one of my 10 gal SP's on the fence line with a plastic cage that was stuck in the SP and secured to the fence with tie wraps. Ami

Dak · May 6, 2011

Looks great, Ami! Thanks for the inspiration. Made out like a bandit at the sale today, they were giving out free samples of their 10 gallon containers in tan, so I bought a few and a large one (45 gallon) in black. Looking forward to using them.

John3 · May 6, 2011

That's a cool pic Ami thanks for posting it.

mecktom · May 8, 2011

Is a 5 gallon Smart Pot large enough for a tomato plant? I have read previous posts that say 7 gallon is best....just trying to penny-pinch.

amideutch · May 9, 2011

Quote:

s a 5 gallon Smart Pot large enough for a tomato plant? I have read previous posts that say 7 gallon is best....just trying to penny-pinch.

Yes, with supplemental feeding during the course of the season and depending on the outside temps watering may be required twice a day. Ami

May 5, 2011	#1
Dak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 494	Smart Pot container size I'm looking at trying some Smart Pots for some of the tomatoes I don't have room for in the ground. Anyone with any experience with them? What size would be good for, say, Brandywine Sudduth or Black Krim? 15 gallon? Thanks!

May 5, 2011	#2
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Dak, grew Cowlick's in a 10gal Smart Pot with excellent results. Anything above a 7 1/2 gal will work fine. Plant support is critical as the Smart Pot does not lend itself very well for plant support . If you have a fence then placing your Smart Pot up against it you can use it for plant support. Otherwise you need to erect a cage around the pot for plant support. 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!'

May 5, 2011	#5
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	John, your right it's 7 gal. Don't know where the 1/2 came from. I use the same size pot's whether they be Ind. or Det.. Dwarfs are a different story. I use the Biota, Myco, Actinovate in all my container plant outs. The nice thing about putting your plants on a fence line is you can butt the container up to the fence and even if you can't secure your cage to the container you can tie wrap it to the fence. Or you can use the fence to support the plant again using tie wraps. 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!'

May 5, 2011	#6
John3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alabama 7.5 or 8 depends on who you ask Posts: 727	Thanks Ami for the tips

May 6, 2011	#8
Dak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 494	Looks great, Ami! Thanks for the inspiration. Made out like a bandit at the sale today, they were giving out free samples of their 10 gallon containers in tan, so I bought a few and a large one (45 gallon) in black. Looking forward to using them.

May 8, 2011	#10
mecktom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southern Virginia Posts: 342	Is a 5 gallon Smart Pot large enough for a tomato plant? I have read previous posts that say 7 gallon is best....just trying to penny-pinch.