15 gallon; 1 or 2 plants better?

Vince · March 31, 2009

I plan on growing all containers this year. I can fit 10-14 15 gallon containers. Am planing doing 30% Cow/70% something called cactus mix (very good results in the past with this stuff). I have tons of transplants and am starting to get greedy about keeping more. Am I better off just leaving one in the container (overall yield), than squeezing 2 in. These guys will get plenty of liquid fert to around, but I am more concerned a about air circulation and disease. Any thoughts are appreciated.

**mdvpc** · March 31, 2009

easy-2 for sure. I use 15 gallon grow bags and I usually put 3 plants in. Used to do 4, but I think 3 are the way to go, at least for me. Am experimenting this summer on 1, 2, 3 and 4 plants per container.

Vince · March 31, 2009

Michael,

I am glad you responded, since I know you have alot of experience doing the pots. I will definitely double up on everything. One more question instead of staring a new thread. Most of the plants going int the 15 gallons are over a foot tall in one gallons(already been transplanted twice, deeper each time). Should I burry them really deep like I would in the ground, or does it not really matter since the pot will eventually be engulffed in roots anyway?

robin303 · April 1, 2009

I also plant into containers and I bury them like I would in the garden. I plant one per container and after the season when I pull them out it is big mass of roots and they always needed a lot of water and fert or they would dry out in 2 days bad.

ContainerTed · April 1, 2009

Two plants per container for sure. And bury them as deep as you can. Some folks can do three, but if the plant is very "bushy", then getting enough light to the "back" plant can be tedious. My plan for this year is two.

Watering can be an everyday affair regardless of plant numbers. Leads to nutrient washout, so be ready to replenish the Micros.

Ted

**mdvpc** · April 1, 2009

Vince-I bury them deep most of the time. I am not 100% convinced that it makes that much difference in a container-but I still do it. I do it mostly because I plant out in March and because of our high winds during that time, I want to protect the plant.

Vince · April 1, 2009

Ok Perfect, Thanks all.

I will burry them deep.

creister · April 1, 2009

Ditto to all the replies.

March 31, 2009	#1
Vince Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 942	15 gallon; 1 or 2 plants better? I plan on growing all containers this year. I can fit 10-14 15 gallon containers. Am planing doing 30% Cow/70% something called cactus mix (very good results in the past with this stuff). I have tons of transplants and am starting to get greedy about keeping more. Am I better off just leaving one in the container (overall yield), than squeezing 2 in. These guys will get plenty of liquid fert to around, but I am more concerned a about air circulation and disease. Any thoughts are appreciated. __________________ Vince

March 31, 2009	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	easy-2 for sure. I use 15 gallon grow bags and I usually put 3 plants in. Used to do 4, but I think 3 are the way to go, at least for me. Am experimenting this summer on 1, 2, 3 and 4 plants per container. __________________ Michael

March 31, 2009	#3
Vince Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 942	Michael, I am glad you responded, since I know you have alot of experience doing the pots. I will definitely double up on everything. One more question instead of staring a new thread. Most of the plants going int the 15 gallons are over a foot tall in one gallons(already been transplanted twice, deeper each time). Should I burry them really deep like I would in the ground, or does it not really matter since the pot will eventually be engulffed in roots anyway? __________________ Vince

April 1, 2009	#5
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Two plants per container for sure. And bury them as deep as you can. Some folks can do three, but if the plant is very "bushy", then getting enough light to the "back" plant can be tedious. My plan for this year is two. Watering can be an everyday affair regardless of plant numbers. Leads to nutrient washout, so be ready to replenish the Micros. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

April 1, 2009	#6
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Vince-I bury them deep most of the time. I am not 100% convinced that it makes that much difference in a container-but I still do it. I do it mostly because I plant out in March and because of our high winds during that time, I want to protect the plant. __________________ Michael

April 1, 2009	#4
robin303 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Zone 8b Posts: 531	I also plant into containers and I bury them like I would in the garden. I plant one per container and after the season when I pull them out it is big mass of roots and they always needed a lot of water and fert or they would dry out in 2 days bad.

April 1, 2009	#8
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Ditto to all the replies.