Guide for Cultivating Ring-Cultivated Tomatoes
Growing Vigorous Tomatoes with Ring Culture
Employing ring culture in pot-grown tomatoes involves surround the crop with a bottomless ring and continually adding layers of compost at 10-14 day intervals. This fosters the tomato to root from the stem, enabling it to absorb more water and nutrients than it would from a growing bag alone, resulting in robust, productive plants.
Ready-made ring culture pots are approximately £10 for three, or you can make your own with simple tools. To do this, cut the bottom of a 20cm pot using secateurs to create a homemade ring pot.
Here's a step-by-step guide to growing ring-culture tomatoes:
Materials Required
- Growing bags or homemade pots
- 20cm diameter pot (3)
- Secateurs
- Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Time Required
15 minutes
Step 1
To make a homemade pot, cut the bottom from a 20cm-diameter plastic pot. If using a growing bag, simply make a hole to place the homemade pot over it.
Step 2
Plant the tomato in the compost, stake, firm, and water well. Then, add 2-3cm of compost to the pot every 10-14 days until it's full. Ensure the plant gets watered daily and a liquid feed weekly.
Step 3
As the plant grows, remove sideshoots and leaves that would otherwise shade developing fruits.
Growing tomatoes using ring culture, combined with container gardening techniques, offers a practical method for creating an optimal environment in both greenhouses and outdoor settings. A stable, aerated environment around the tomato stem fosters a healthier, more productive crop, ultimately yielding more abundant harvests.
References:1. Gardening Know How (2021) DIY Hydroponic Tomatoes. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/hydroponic-tomatoes.htm2. The Spruce (2021) How to use a Ring Culture Pot. https://www.thespruce.com/ring-culture-pot-growing-tomatoes-26012083. Almanac (2021) Tomato Storage, Drying, and Preserving Tips https://www.almanac.com/plant/tomato-preserving-tips4. Fine Gardening (2021) Deep Plant Tomatoes for More Harvest. https://www.finegardening.com/article/deep-plant-tomatoes-for-more-harvest5. BBC Good Food (2021) Growing Tomatoes in Containers: A Complete Guide https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/growing-tomatoes-in-containers
Incorporating ring culture and home-and-garden practices, one can create a home-made ring pot using a 20cm-diameter plastic pot, fostering a thriving lifestyle of gardening with an emphasis on cultivating robust tomatoes. With consistent watering and a weekly liquid feed, the home-made ring culture pot encourages an optimal environment that ultimately yields more abundant harvests, enriching the gardening hobby and home-garden lifestyle.
