need help to grow tomatoes in greenhouse
Printer-friendly versionI AM TRYING TO GROW TOMATOES AND A FEW OTHER VEGS IN A "EARTH BOX TYPE CONTAINER" I AM CONSTUCTING 100 OF THESE ABOUT 2X LARGER THAN ORIGINAL "EARTH BOX " THESE WILL BE WATERED FROM BOTTOM AND A GOOD MEDIUM TO GROW IN ALONG WITH A GOOD FERTILIZING PROGRAM.
I WOULD LIKE ANY EXPERIENCED ADVICE ON ALL PARTS OF SUCH A PROJECT. I LIVE IN SEVIERVILLE TN ZONE 6 B AND HAVE ONLY A MODERATE AMOUT OF EXPERIENCE HOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE CAN HELP ME TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS??
In a greenhouse, circulation fans are also supposed to be able to pollinate plants such as tomatoes. I've heard that this does work, but was wondering if anyone has some real world experience with this. Seems to me that growers would not resort to the ever efficient bee if the fans worked well enough.
Greydog - Are you intending to grow the tomatoes and have them produce in your greenhouse? If so you need to be aware of a few things. Tomatoes need a soil temperature (note not air temp) of about 60 before they will flower and set fruit. The warmer the better for tomaotes. They also need plenty of light. During the winter (in most parts of the country) there is not enough sunlight so the plants will stretch to try and find more. Not sure about TN but you may have to add additional light during the day and lengthen the day also. Besides the water and soil (which the earth boxes should supply) you need a polinator for most types of tomatoes. There are a few varieties that are advertised as greenhouse - meaning they are self-fertile. Or you can polinate them by shaking the plants (while blooming) to cause pollination. Some commercial growers are now using bumblebees in the greenhouse to pollinate - they are very good at it.
I have grown and ripened tomatoes in my greenhouse during the winter (in Southern Oregon). It can be done - but for me the additional cost of heating and lighting just made it too expensive to justify. I could pay $2.99 for a cardboard tasting tomato at the store in December or I could pay an additional $50 to $75 for utilities to grow it myself. Guess you know what I decided.
Good luck