SALE: 20% off with code “mom” at calikimgardenandhome.com, includes all CaliKim Seed Collections, Book/Seed Bundles, CaliKim SmartPots. Free tomato seed packet with every order! Sale expires Monday, May 10, 2021. Save $5 when you purchase my seed/book bundles: Container Garden: bit.ly/CaliKimContainerGardenSeedCollectionBookBundle Spring Garden: bit.ly/CaliKimSpringGardenSeedCollectionBookBundle Thanks for gardening with us!
I have a small balcony on my city apartment. This year, two tomato plants, herbs, spinach, cucumbers and aloe and jasmine. All in containers and I'm not done.😏
Me too, small balcony but to maximize my growing potential, at the dollar store, I got those containers that straddle the railing and secured them in place with garden wire. In one I have a vine of black eyed Susans growing over and in another, peppermint. On the ground I have two green pepper plants, lavender, geraniums because I wanted color on the balcony, celery, two cherry tomato plants, a regular tomato plant, purple basil and genovese basil plants and lettuce.
Container gardening is the only way I grow my vegetable garden now. I love it and I grow things vertical now after decades of having a field garden. I’m amazed how little weeds I have and I’m convinced that the composting is a big part of weed control. Love love love my container gardening.
Thank you for this video Kim. People tell me all the time that they either have a small yard, don't get much sun, or don't have a yard. I don't have a yard and grow fully in containers. If you want to grow in containers YOU CAN. Thanks Kim for showing people the possibilities of gardening.
I also fabric containers. Love them. I incorporate a little pelletized gypsum into the soil which slowly provides calcium during the season. When temps start getting into the 90s I cover them with a 40% shade cloth. It prevents leaf and fruit burn but also keeps the temp under the shade structure in the 80s. For us that is critical for continual fruit production deeper into the summer.
My NorCal hand watering solution is to add extra compost and vermiculite to my containers + straw mulch. I find these three things keep my soil moist for a week. I’m also going to add plastic trays under my fabric pots this year for July and August and pour water in twice a day just in case. I’ll be honest, I’m a little worried about slugs finding their way underneath my fabric pots (😒) but keeping my tomatoes happy is more important, and the felt should keep them out of the roots, I hope.
Thanks for your videos. For the first time, I grew my own cherry tomatoes on my back porch in one large pot, and, thanks to your tips, I was able to enjoy well over 100 delicious tomatoes. It's now September and I can still see many more on the vine -- not to mention that the plant is absolutely beautiful. Thank you again.
I’m so excited for this yr bc we actually had a spring. And I’m in the southeast US, so this means I can grow them almost 6 mos a yr. I also just bought an orange jubilee for the first time. I grow them in smaller containers but still haven’t been disappointed. It’s super-cheap to buy a 5-gallon bucket and mix ur own soil w/peat, compost, and top soil. Happy growing! 😊
I love growing tomatoes! The Tiny Tim is my favorite and I’ve got 3 started so far. But thanks to you, I’m trying my first full sized tomatoes this year - Roma and Green Zebra. I’ve got the Roma in 10 gallon Smart Pots and the Green Zebra in a 15 gallon SmartPots. I’m hoping that will be enough space for them on my little patio. 😊
Here in eastern Canada, things are a little different because of the weather and short growing season of 3 months where a 5 gallon pot is plenty enough. I switched to growing my tomatoes in pots instead of the vegetable garden because we get extremely humid weather followed by violent crashing rainstorms that can damage tomatoes. A wet, rainy season will also spoil plants, cause disease and inhibit fruit production. So it all depends on your zone, location and weather conditions. Peppers and cucumbers handle this kind of weather far better but tomatoes really don't like to be wet all the time. So growing them in 5 gallon pots is perfect in my case as I'm able to control the amount of water they receive and keep them out of wet weather in a short growing season.
With your great tutorial, I'm hoping to avoid my annual tomato 'murder spree'. Our 'soil' here on the California Central Coast, on the west mesa of the Nipomo area, is mostly sandy (meaning great drainage, poor growing) even though the Santa Maria Valley (about 2 miles away) is some of the most fertile produce growing in CA. Great video and very informative...wish me luck (please! Make the killing stop!)
Thank you, Marie! Tiny Tim is loving his little spot in the orange 5 gal Smart Pots - can't wait til those tomatoes turn red, that will be a sight to behold. Enjoy your Sunday!
I was hoping for some California sunshine in the video and I was not disappointed. This year our spring over here is unusually cold and wet. Will take longer to get the tomato seedlings planted out.
Hello Ranka - always sending Cali sunshine your way! Stay cheered during these cold months, dream of spring and grow your tomatoes and seedlings inside to help make the time go faster till warmth comes to Germany! Have a beautiful Sunday, my friend!
I’m a first time tomato grower thanks to my mom gifting me a plant 2 months ago. I’m usually known as a plant serial killer but I’m determined to grow this tomato plant successfully. What I’m concerned with is we live in a duplex with no back yard. We only have a side yard that gets direct sun for about 3-4 hours per day before the sun casts a shadow when it moves behind our house. Do you think that’s enough sun? I would put it out front but knowing the weirdos who walk through our neighborhood, I’m worried someone will steal it or knock it over....we aren’t in the best area of town. The plant looks nice and healthy and it’s growing well in its pot. I do see future buds growing...
@Alyssa. I have read that determinate Bush type tomatoes do well in part shade. I, also, have an area like yours with little sun, gonna try this this year. Indeterminate (vine) tomatoes need full sun. Determinate produce and are done soon after, whereas, Indeterminates continue producing. Hope this helps!
Nice video, I am planting all of my tomatoes in raised beds and containers, mulching is so essential , it keeps the moisture in the soil and and it keeps the soil almost free from weeds.
thank you, I didn't know about the fabric containers...my boyfriend and I parted ways and we always had a beautiful and massive tomato garden. I wanted to start my own here but I have a small city yard and wasn't sure how to start with potted tomatoes. Thanks!
Kim, I know this is not the topic at hand I will comment on. Just letting you know that it’s thanks to you I and your channel and watching some of your past programs that I can finally say that I got the hot composting cooking this time around.You are the one whom I saw demonstrate the step by step process needed to get the results right what has to be done to certain materials I.e. dead leaves, -the first time around I put those leaves in whole. Not gonna say I got it down pat yet, but first week will be fine.My challenge will be to manage the decrease in both volume and temperature that will happen on the way to the finished product........which will be half the size from where it started.
For the absolutely BEST soil mixture for growing, talk to a pot grower....they have super soil mixture recipes that will grow plants like you've never seen.
Your dog is soooo cute!! I always learn something new watching your videos, so thank you 😊 I am growing 12 tomato plants in my raised beds this year and 3 in containers.
where do U buy the black cage ( tomatoes cages) for your plant> It looks study & heavy duty i like to know where I can buy. pls send me a link to buy this cage
on an off note and as a compliment! im an ex-cosmo, specifically i have a love of color theory, and i cant help but to mention that your highlights are perfectly blended into your hair and i love how they dont go all the way up to the root. that and the color you have compliments your complexion best i feel, and it makes you look so lively and ready for summer!! pretty hair! pretty garden!
@@CaliKim29 I’m growing broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beans, spinach, kale, herbs, beetroot, carrots, spring onion, garlic and planted a lemon tree, blueberry and raspberry plant, strawberries and more lol. My backyard is legit an ever growing food forest mate!!! Thanks for your lovely videos you have a great presence x
I'm so happy I found you and this video. I live in a 4 Plex in an amazing community and I'm blessed with some yard space I'm able to use. I just moved in and trying to figure out how to make a garden that is not expensive and will work on my space. This is going to work amazingly 🥰
Great video💙 So excited to plant my tomatoes outside. I started with seeds this year indoors under grow lights and now they are in the greenhouse waiting for Seattle weather to be warm enough. I took your advice and spray painted all my trellises multiple bright colors and inverted some and tied them together. Can't wait❣️🍅🧑🌾
Oh wow! I love your DIY trellis using TWO tomato cages!!! 😲 I have never thought of that before!!! How do you estimate how much feet of irrigation hose you need for containers? Thank you for all your wonderful videos!!!
Hi Colleen, glad you like it - such a super easy quick trellis! You could figure how much tubing you need for each container of each size, then multiply that by how many containers you have. I usually just get several rolls of tubing, because I'm always adding more and hate to run out. Home depot has a great supply of the DIG irrigation products, which is what I use (all links are in vid description for Amazon, but I usually pick up extra at HD). Thanks for watching!
My dyi tomato cage inverts the other way. Big part on the soil, try to manuve the meters sticks around each other. I used garden staples to adhere it to the soil. Gotta use them esp for cherry tomatoes.
Thank you so much, Amanda - you made my day! I haven't had a ton of time for focused work outs lately since I've been so busy with my new book. I keep 3 pound weights in my office and whenever I take a break, I do a mini arm workout. I also walk 30 min 3 times a week, we try to fit a hike in on the weekends. Gardening is a great workout too, especially since we live on a hill, I'm constantly running up and down the stairs to lug soil and get things I need from the top of the hill. I try to move a lot, run up and down stairs, lift heavy things whenever I can and drink lots of water. Of course, snacking in the garden helps too! Glad you enjoyed the tomato tips - have a great Sunday!
When I grow tomatoes outdoors, the squirrels get at them. Any suggestions for growing cherry tomatoes indoors? I do have sliding glass doors that would allow them to get plenty of sun.
Hi Kim,still to cold here to start here.Put fence up to keep deer out yesterday.Should start planting again next week.Some good ideas for tomatoes 🍅,thank you.
Hi Ron - sending some Cali warmth your way! Good for you for getting out there and getting the deer fence done - that will save your garden. Enjoy your planting!
I am growing determinate tomatoes in pots. Getting ready to put them in the 10 gallon cloth bags. But I’m unsure the best way to support the determinate tomato. Cage vs stakes.. I’m confused as I’m a novice! Suggestions? Also do you put a saucer under the bag container so the water that hits the saucer water can eventually soaked back in by the plant for feeding. Wasn’t sure how the hose you were using worked either. Sorry for the questions. Anything anyone can answer is super helpful. Thank you!!
This is my first time growing anything, and I was wondering, what happens if you live somewhere that doesn’t get frost? Will the tomatoes keep producing into the next year?
I like your way Kim container gardening is my first choice , i use bag , container and pot in my garden too, thanks so much for sharing such informative and educational for beginner
Great video. Last year was a bust for my tomatoes. But everything else did great. So this year I'm going back to my containers. But a few of my plants will go into straw bales.
Have you tried installing the drip irrigation lines both at the surface and deep in the Smart Pot for better deep root watering? Will this benefit the lower root or make the plant more at risk for root rot? My thinking is that this would allow more even watering with a shorter watering duration.
I have not done that....that could be a really good idea in warmer climates. If you do go for it....monitor the soil and make sure it doesn't get too oversaturated and adjust watering as needed. My apologies, Charlie...I have to admit, a few comments got by me. Best, CaliKim
Welcome, Cecelia! Great to have you and thank you in advance for subbing! I hope you are enjoying the videos! Kim. We are also on instagram - calikim29 and calicameraguy. Follow and say hello!
Canada Ontario so much rain, air born blight in raised bed, need to go big clay pots Promix potting soil. Stake semi determinant and indeterminate 4 plants total. To protect from blight can I put a clear plastic bag over staked plants to act as greenhouse and water I L per day at base and remove lower leaves for ventilation. Do u think that might work. Ultra Sonic, Sungold, dwarf red pear, Tiny Tim and Tumbler not staked, all in 15” clay bell pots. Should I cut vents in bags or not, remove when suckers need to be removed then back on.
I have planted in a much too small container, can you please tell me if I can transplant into a larger container when my plant is about 4 feet tall and has unripen fruit thanks for the help!
I'm in.... I planted "better boy" Heirloom tomatoes in a five gallon pot from seed. Any chance I'll actually get tomatoes this year, the plants are still pretty small. -Concerned in NY-
You're dog has the same markings as mine, except mines a staffy/American bull dog mix and yours looks like a sheepdog type dog, so cute. And it reminds me of this dog from this cartoon called Mr. Pickles, it's a very strange show, but all that aside, your dog looks just like him. I love the channel, btw.
❤ Miss Kim, I'm Peter in Florida and my beautiful tomato plant in large container was growing well but only has 1 huge green tomato. It's terribly hot here, like about 100 each day and very humid. Please help me and my beautiful 87 year old Italian mom, Domenica. Grazie ❤❤❤❤
Sorry to hear, Peter. Provide Shade: Use a shade cloth to protect the plant from the intense midday sun. Water Consistently: Water deeply in the early morning or late evening to keep the soil consistently moist. Mulch: Apply mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and keep the roots cool. These steps can help your tomato plant cope with the extreme heat and improve its chances of producing more fruit. You got this! CK
@@CaliKim29 thank you and bless you... I was pruning it a little and getting rid of a couple "sucker" branches that I'm thinking don't do anything. Am getting mulch and will definitely follow your ideas. These things, tomatoes or whatever, I see as being alive. Ya know? Thanks again. Peter and Mom
I’ve been also using fabrics grow bags for a long time and I use the same 20 gallon pot and I use a great hay mulch with out seed of course and I’ve never had a tomato plant disease since I love it
Hey Ryan - awesome! Love to hear that grow bags are working so well for you. They really are an easy, inexpensive and very effective way to grow a TON of veggies. Have fun!
I have a struggling tomato in a 20 gal smart pot with some oregano and I want to pull the tomato and put a new one in but I'm worried about killing the oregano and reusing the soil but I'm also concerned about having to replace all that soil bc it's expensive and I'm certain there are worms in there. Any advice?
Has anyone done much research on Whitney Farms soil? I am new to gardening but have successfully grown 6 tomato plants and 6 mini bell peppers with this soil but I started to hear some mixed reviews.
