my tomato plants have stopped growing

pete l on 6/28/2011, 4:21 pm

in additition to my 4x4 boxes, I made 3 10in cubes out of wood for 3 tomatoe plants. I filled them 1/2 with sand and the top with mm. my tomatoe plants in my 4x4 boxes are alot bigger.I am wondering if maybe the sand is affecting the plants in some way. I am a first year gardener. there is enough sun and they get enough water. has anyone else used sand as a filler and had similar issues. next year i will just use mm in them. i do have flowers and tomatoes but growth has pretty much stopped and they are indeterminant . i also noticed some yellowing of some of the leaves

Kelejan on 6/28/2011, 4:50 pm

I think you will find that a tomato plant's roots go outside the bounderies of one square. Perhaps your toms are rootbound and the roots need more space.

camprn on 6/28/2011, 5:05 pm

Hi Pete,

to the SFG Forum and gardening. Sand has absolutely no nutritional value for your tomato plant. If I had a similar situation I would remove the tomato plant and Mel's Mix, pour out the sand and replant it to a depth of 6 inches in all Mel's Mix. The tomato will put out roots all along the buried stem and the 10" box should be plenty to grow a small tomato plant. Just my $0.02.
Oh yeah, did you drill drainage holes in your boxes? If you did not, you may want to do this.

my tomato plants have stopped growing

my tomato plants have stopped growing

Re: my tomato plants have stopped growing

Re: my tomato plants have stopped growing