#1
So last yr, just pre-covid, Mrs Olschoolsteel and I put out the garden knowing it would be our major source of veggies for the yr and we weren't wrong. One snag we had was ;ate spring frost got 3-4 of our tomato babies. This yr Mrs Olschoolsteel grew no less than 16 tomato starts from seed Jan-Apr in the house and before we put them out this yr, we did so with insurance. I had saved all of my big coffee cans both metal and plastic so we cut the bottoms out (and that stupid ring too) and planted them in the cans out in the garden.

So we didnt have a frost but all of these buggers have taken off like crazy. About a ft tall and ft in breadth. Now is the time I have to decide to pull the cans and shore up any exposed roots, or just let them go. I have never plated peppers and tomatoes in this fashion and thought it standard practice to pull them eventually. But heat and humidity are limiting our wrk hrs.

My biggest fear is the heat of the summer will cook the roots in the metal cans in due time. Or will it? Should I leave them or pull them and cage them as soon as I can? I'm at the precipice right now and need a little advice.

What would you guys do?
#2

Member
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Watching
#3

Geezer
New Brunswick, Canada
(06-13-2021, 02:33 AM)olschoolsteel Wrote:  I had saved all of my big coffee cans both metal and plastic so we cut the bottoms out (and that stupid ring too) and planted them in the cans out in the garden.
Whut?
So, you have bottomless metal (or plastic) cylinders around your tomato plants. What does that do?
Did you start the seedlings in the cans before cutting out the bottoms?
We could be Heroes, just for one day.
- David Bowie -
#4

Member
Central Maine
I think you can either pull the cans or not. I'd be concerned about damaging the plants. I'd have pulled the cans sooner if it was a concern, but what's done is done. If you leave the cans in I suspect they'll need more watering from the heat transfer to the soil. Next year if you're concerned about frost there is a season extender found at the link. They work.

https://www.wall-o-water.com/products
Brian. Lover of SE razors.


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