Tumbler tomato problem

[Alex_Parrott]

Hi all, I wonder whether you can help me with my problem.
Eager to start cropping I cheated and purchased two sungold tomato plants currently outside and doing very well with plenty of set tomatoes and also three tumbler tomatoe plants that I have put into a kind of hanging basket.

The tumbler tomatoes are not doing so well. One I ahd to throw out as it just shrivelled up and died and now the others have lots of flowers on which I was initally very pleased about but now they seem to just dry out and drop off. They are constantly watered consistently, get brought in at night and during bad weather so cant be the cold.

The only idea I ahve is it may be the compost as I have been using Westland multi purpose which was on offer at B and Q which i definetly would not recommend and also have been using new horizon grow bad soil as I wanted to do my part in being peat free and again has really dissapointed me.

Anyway over to you guys for your ideas!

[Jardiniere]

i have never been able to grow toms in a hanging basket of any type so would recommend just planting them outside and put geraniums in the hanging basket ......but wot do i know?

[sewer rat]

Plant one tumbler to a basket, keep it well watered and make sure you give it a feed with dilute tomato feed once a week as the nutrients in the compost only last a few weeks - don't worry too much about flowers dropping off - the plant will keep producing them so long as it is healthy. I have 50 tumblers in 5 litre pots in the tunnel - waiting to be placed outside when the weather improves - loads of flowers and quite a few toms formed or forming.

[cupcake]

I grew them last year (the yellow ones) but put them in Morrisons pots. I could hardly keep up with them! I'm sceptacle that most hanging baskets have enough compost for a tomato plant.

[Incy]

My tumbling toms in hanging baskets are doing fine despite all the sudden weather changes. But I have 1 plant to a basket and have planted them in grow bag compost. Would definitely recommend you feed them and if possible give them a basket or pot each.

[allotmentlady]

One per basket, top up with compost and make sure u feed them....i tend to leave water in my watering can inside greenhouse during the day so the water isnt too cold for them....a softie but its the way I have always done it! lol

[rob the roller]

I used to grow my tomatoes in shop bought gp compost. This year I am growing them (in pots) in a mixture of about one quarter gp compost to 3 quarters barnyard manure (which I collect myself in bags from the farm). I put the manure at the bottom of the container and the compost (which is much finer) at the top where the plant can be more easily bedded in.

It is early days, but if the plants so far are anything to go by I am looking forward to the best tomatoes ever. The plants are thick and strong and about 3 - 4 feet tall and a luxuriant green. Usually at this time of the year they would be about the same height, but with the foliage in varying degress of mottled yellow and brown and badly in need of trace elements. Most have at least 1 truss set, one or two have more than one.

I have never had any luck with determinate varieties so can't offer any tips, but if you have access to a supply of well rotted barnyard or stable manure, it may be worth your while getting some, either to use as a mulch, or if your plants are in small baskets, consider moving them into larger containers (e.g. buckets) which you can place on something tall and let them cascade over.

[eye1der]

im having no problems with mine,im doing 3 varietys in 18" baskets, subartic plenty is very strong with masses of flowers and just starting to set(4 in one basket!) ive also hundreds and thousands and tumbling tom(2 of each in 18") the also have a courgette in with them too, all doing really well, medium is b n q cheap multi purpose with 5 slow release fertiliser tablets mixed with water retaining gel. the are needing watering twice a day and i will be feeding diluted bat guano weekly from next week will post a few pic's this evening

[hsthst]

I used to grow my tomatoes in shop bought gp compost. This year I am growing them (in pots) in a mixture of about one quarter gp compost to 3 quarters barnyard manure (which I collect myself in bags from the farm). I put the manure at the bottom of the container and the compost (which is much finer) at the top where the plant can be more easily bedded in.

It is early days, but if the plants so far are anything to go by I am looking forward to the best tomatoes ever. The plants are thick and strong and about 3 - 4 feet tall and a luxuriant green. Usually at this time of the year they would be about the same height, but with the foliage in varying degress of mottled yellow and brown and badly in need of trace elements. Most have at least 1 truss set, one or two have more than one.

I have never had any luck with determinate varieties so can't offer any tips, but if you have access to a supply of well rotted barnyard or stable manure, it may be worth your while getting some, either to use as a mulch, or if your plants are in small baskets, consider moving them into larger containers (e.g. buckets) which you can place on something tall and let them cascade over.

I use a similar system but with the manure at the top where the feeder roots are.