Growing tomatoes in pipe...

10 years ago

I have been conducting experiments growing tomatoes in sections of pcv pipe...just for fun. I have learned a lot. I align 2 1/2 to 3 foot sections of pipe against my chain link fence. I secure the pipe with bungee cords to the fence. Recently, I have been sitting the bottom of the pipe on 12 inch concrete stepping stones. A few holes drilled 1 inch up from bottom (drainage). I have learned that the concrete "draws" the moisture out of the bottom of the pipe...without having it muck up the bottom 3-4 inches, as usual. I replaced a one month old transplant today that was diseased. Wow! The roots were awesome. They ran the entire 2 1/2 feet! I have found the ideal inside diameter pipe is 10-12 inches. I get this pipe free from my local irrigation company (culls left over from jobs).

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Comments (2)

nugrdnnut
10 years ago
Interesting.

I have tried growing tomatoes in pvc pipes, straight into the ground. I used 10 inch (diameter) pipe 18 inches long, with 2 inches sticking up above the level ground. I did this as an experiment to keep water going to the tomato and less to "weeds". My experience is that the tomatoes (or any of the plants planted in the pipes for that matter) didn't perform as well as those that were not planted in the PVC pipe. I tried this several times over several years with the same results.

I will certainly be interested to hear how your tomato plant produces.

Regards,
Tom
fireduck
Original Author
10 years ago
N...I am learning as I go on this...My soil is heavy clay. So, besides not wanting to plant in this stuff (hard when dry, mucky when wet), I would not want to bury my pipe. The container forum here talks so much about the bottom 4 inches being useless muck in pots. The concrete steppingstone on the bottom of the pipe seems to eliminate this! A good thing. I have a feeling I need to up my nutrients in my containers.
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