GARDMAN TOMATO GROWBAG GROWHOUSE PROBLEMS
Last week I took possession of a Tomato Growbag Growhouse by Gardman and while it is serving its purpose and the reinforced cover seems strong, there are what I consider to be design faults.
1. I don't know what purpose the two metal mesh trays that are placed (loosely)at the base of the Growhouse are supposed to serve. They don't cover the width of the base and so there is a wide space not covered by mesh trays which bow under the weight of a Growbag and pots so the metal actually touches the ground. They don't seem to particularly strengthen the base of the Growhouse when in position either, I don't think.
2. While there are two hooks attached to the plastic cover at the back, from which you can secure the Growhouse to a fence or something, I am totally unconvinced that they would last in situations where it can get very windy. As you can see below, I have secured my Growhouse to my fence using twine.
3. There are three reinforced holes in the top of the Growhouse from which canes can protrude. Great idea, except that when it rains water pools on the top of the Growhouse and then drips through the centre hole and onto the middle tomato plant. I discovered that my middle tomato plant pot is absolutely saturated with rain water.
Personally, I think the Growhouse would be improved if it had a central support running the width of the base and a central support running the width of the top. Those supports would serve the purpose of stopping the trays, (and there could be 3 trays), from bowing under weight. The top central support would, hopefully, stop the rainwater pooling and dripping down onto the middle tomato plant. Anyway, I have made a little adaptation to the top of the Growhouse so that, hopefully, rain won't leak in through the cane holes any more.
I also bought three special growbag tomato pots which have not worked out very well for me. No fault of the manufacturer but I had repotted my tomatoes into bigger black pots before I discovered the special pots and when I went to put the tomato plants into the special pots today, found that the roots of the tomato plants had already spread out into the black pots and I would have had to cause quite a lot of damage to the new roots to try and squeeze the plants into the much smaller capacity of the special pots. Maybe next year.
1. I don't know what purpose the two metal mesh trays that are placed (loosely)at the base of the Growhouse are supposed to serve. They don't cover the width of the base and so there is a wide space not covered by mesh trays which bow under the weight of a Growbag and pots so the metal actually touches the ground. They don't seem to particularly strengthen the base of the Growhouse when in position either, I don't think.
2. While there are two hooks attached to the plastic cover at the back, from which you can secure the Growhouse to a fence or something, I am totally unconvinced that they would last in situations where it can get very windy. As you can see below, I have secured my Growhouse to my fence using twine.
3. There are three reinforced holes in the top of the Growhouse from which canes can protrude. Great idea, except that when it rains water pools on the top of the Growhouse and then drips through the centre hole and onto the middle tomato plant. I discovered that my middle tomato plant pot is absolutely saturated with rain water.
Personally, I think the Growhouse would be improved if it had a central support running the width of the base and a central support running the width of the top. Those supports would serve the purpose of stopping the trays, (and there could be 3 trays), from bowing under weight. The top central support would, hopefully, stop the rainwater pooling and dripping down onto the middle tomato plant. Anyway, I have made a little adaptation to the top of the Growhouse so that, hopefully, rain won't leak in through the cane holes any more.
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| Pots of tomatoes placed in Growbag. Three lengths of twine secured to fence hold Growhouse in place. Even in a strong wind, it doesn't move now. |
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| Growhouse top no longer sags but is held up by the canes - see below |
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| Non-slip rubber-bands and twine around canes holds up the Growhouse top |
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| Picture of the special pots that I had ordered. The pots need to be planted before the tomato roots get too big as the capacity of the pots is only about the size of a 7 inch pot. |