After three years of growing beautiful tomato seedlings from seed I’ve finally recognized that regardless of pot size, tomatoes in open ground or very deep beds open to the earth will always outperform those in pots. They need way more legroom and temperature moderation in the root zone then even a very large pot can provide. Plus I’m certain that the actual connection to the Earth is part of the equation.  In year one, I got 80 pounds of tomatoes off seven plants that all reached almost 6 feet in height, in an open-bottomed 8’x4’ bed that currently holds my cucumber and squash trellises. This year the only tomato plant that is thriving is the one whose roots are free to go anywhere they like. The ones in pots, even very large 5 gallon containers, are visibly stressed the same as the ones in 3 gallon pots were last year. At first I thought it was a soil problem, but I’ve done everything right in that regard in these pots and they just don’t like it.  when these black pots get irradiated by sun all day, the temperature in the root zone can easily reach 80°F and it’s amazing how quickly they become root bound. I will still get some yield off of these but their big brother in the bed is going to put them to shame. 

It’s all part of the process of working out the kinks in a small setting so that when we move to a space with some serious production capability, I’ll have figured many of these things out. On Sunday we are going to look at a nearly 6 acre partially forested place with animal corrals, fencing around the perimeter and loads of growing space. Lord willing, we will be building our vision for self sufficiency there.

I just love growing things and doing these experiments a year at a time. #gardenstr #homesteading