Tomato Ildi - suitability for baskets??

[Ladylarpsalot]

So, I bought a packet of Ildi this year, because they were described as being "compact", "trailing", and "suitable for hanging baskets". The young plants I've got growing are looking bigger than I'd expected, which prompted me to do some further searching.

I'm now finding about two-thirds of places online describe them as a ginormous cordon variety that needs lots of room... with the remaining third saying they're great for hanging baskets and containers.

I'm flummoxed to say the least - I wouldn't have thought a cordon variety would do well in even a very large hanging basket, never mind the sort of six-foot monster I'm seeing described by some folks!

Has anyone tried growing Ildi this way? Are there multiple kinds of Ildi, even? Do they maintain a more trailing basket-happy habit if you refrain from pruning them as you usually would with a cordon tomato?

Any thoughts or experiences welcome!

[veggiechicken]

Hi and welcome!

I haven't grown them myself but there are several threads about them that may help.

Here's a couple to start -

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...oms_96953.html

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...oes_92223.html

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...highlight=ildi

[Ladylarpsalot]

Heya!

Yeah, I've fairly combed the previous topics on these ones, but I've yet to find an answer! As far as I can tell everyone usually seems to grow them as cordons...

[Jay-ell]

Packaging said that it naturally tops itself at 5 or 6 feet.

[Thelma Sanders]

Peardrops is the yellow tom variety for baskets, which I grow. The fruits look similar to Ildi - but the growth is completely different.

https://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/pro...veg1148-p-8740

[Jay-ell]

Or Tumbling Tom Yellow.

[Kirk]

Grown them for a couple of years.
Straight up a 8ft bamboo. so not really a bush variety.
Moreveg define them as Indeterminate and so suited as a cordon, and they have been such in my experience. Think I have Yellow Pear this year instead.

[Ladylarpsalot]

Hmm, sounds as though the place I bought them from (and several other places) might have got them confused with another variety then!

Curses. Oh well. Time to try and find some standing room in the garden then I guess...!

[Jay-ell]

Or alternatively a very large basket

[Ladylarpsalot]

Or alternatively a very large basket

And a stepladder to harvest the thing, perhaps

Wonder whether it would sort of bend over and cascade without snapping if it were left unsupported...

[veggiechicken]

Try those upside down tomato planters?

[Jay-ell]

Seed Parade are the one recommending it for baskets. Here's their instructions

https://www.seedparade.co.uk/tomato-...-25-seeds.html

everywhere else I checked said suitable for containers or planters and that "The cordon-type plant is relatively compact, stopping naturally at 1.5-1.8m (5-6ft) high." - is 6 foot compact?

[Ladylarpsalot]

Yes, Seed Parade is where I got them from. I found another few places describing them in the same way, though. I might try putting one in my very biggest basket and see what happens

Try those upside down tomato planters?

Interesting! Somehow I'd never come across those before. Now I'm envisaging a six-foot upside-down cordon suspended from somewhere around the first floor windows. It'd be a talking point if nothing else!