Dry farmed tomatoes are amazing. They can produce some of the tastiest fruit! It does involve deep soil prep, and I believe *triple* (not just double) digging is used. So not for everyone!

Also you might want to invest in some five gallon grow bags. I have found that smaller than five gallons is too small at least for some tomatoes, and the smaller pots are harder to keep evenly watered. I did grow some in three gallon pots this year (though just a few, nowhere near your production levels!) and found also that mulching with straw around the sides of the pot as well as on top of the soil surface was a big help.

Thank you, Kyla, for the information.

Would you suggest a link?

Gerry

Pot size shouldn't be as critical w your method, since your plants can continue growing down into the soil under your bottomless pots. I'd be curious to know (at the end of the season) if they did put a lot of roots down below the compost.

I can already tell that the roots are into the gravel. However, I will document how much root grew under the pot.

Good point, Jill.

Edit: Here's a link: http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/files/14...

profesora said:I can already tell that the roots are into the gravel. However, I will document how much root grew under the pot.

Yes, I would also be very interested in how much those roots travel into the gravel.

A couple of questions:

Do you have to worry about the pots getting too hot and burning the roots ? Temps in my garden stay in the high 90s and low 100s for most of the summer months.

I do have the gravely/rocky soil, but I can't call it rich soil. I also don't create enough plant materials to feed a compost pile, so would potting soil work instead of compost ?

Since the plants would be grown in containers, the only source of plant nutrients would be what I added to the pot. What would you recommend ?

Lyn