A new way for tomatoes

[susieq100]

Really interesting thread and food for thought (and tummies)! I've had a bumper crop this year from bush and cordon toms. Cordon in the greenhouse which I have sort of armpitted. The bush ones still are covered in blossom and I have put one into the conservatory to see what will happen! Conservatory is unheated but double-glazed. Will it be warmer than greenhouse? Don't know. Wait and see job. But I will definitely try Zaz's 'roaming tomato' next year.

[DavidJP]

This is the standard way that tomatoes are grown in the US. They typically use purpose built tomato cages, the texas cages are probably the best and most sturdy Tomato Cages | Texas Tomato Cage Revolutionary Tomato Cages for Growing Tomatoes.
You can also make your own from either concrete reinforcing mesh or even pig fencing (might need staking with that).
The cage guides the plant upwards rather than along the ground and really is very little effort and no pruning at any stage, occasionally you might have to push an errant stem back inside the cage. You can then pick fruit by just reaching in thru the panels. It works very well with little effort but good to make sure you have sturdy ones in the first place or staked if they are not so sturdy.

[SarzWix]

I know a few growers who construct something similar, but squares, with canes. I just don't have the space to do it in my greenhouse though, so I usually only allow one sideshoot to grow.

[Shadylane]

Yeah, but October is pushing it a bit for any kind of crop ~ keep forcing them on in the airing cupboard

Lol, no I'm not planning on growing them on, I just meant if they can germinate outside in October, then they really don't need the airing cupboard Having said that I probably still will give them some heat, as I'm impatient

[Nik]

I saw something interesting earlier this year when I was at a freind's barbecue and nosed over the fence at their neighbour's veg patch. They had bent their tom plants over and laid them on a bed of straw so they were growing along the ground and then placed plates of glass over them resting on bricks. Like making a mini greenhouse for them a foot off the ground.

[merlin]

I'm with you Nik. I have done both over the years, and had good results with both. I always plant more than I need and usually end up with bucket fulls

[singleseeder]

I seem to remember fields of tripods in Spain ( I was racing past in a train). Were these tomatoes? They looked like it. How would the toms be tied in? It would take hours.

Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick here, but it could work outside; it would be better support than a single cane.

[Thelma Sanders]

I plant my 'leftover from the greenhouse' tomatoes outside on a teepee of canes (about 2 ft apart) and plant one tom to each cane.
I tie them in as normal, they tend not to get as big as they do in the house, so there's no problem.

In Greece I've seen them support each bush tom with a lower teepee, with twine all around the outside, and just let them grow how they like......... so easy.

[singleseeder]

In Greece I've seen them support each bush tom with a lower teepee, with twine all around the outside, and just let them grow how they like......... so easy.

Aaah, I might pinch this idea. It will keep them off my damp clay soil.

Not tried toms straight in the ground up here yet, those in large containers last year weren't too bad, but spares might go out next year.

Snadger might pop in here and put me straight though.

[veggiechicken]

Well I have dozens of tommie seedlings in my overwintering onion bed that must have popped up from the compost I forked in recently. And to think I normally germinate them in the airing cupboard I think next year less mollycodlling is in order.

I have at least 20 seedlings in the greenhouse bed which must have grown from fallen tomatoes. They look quite healthy too - about 4" high.

[marchogaeth]

So would vine tomatoes treated like this just be too big and heavy for a large hanging basket assuming I got all the supporting stuff right and only put one in a basket? Or are there more than just Tumbling Tom that are worth growing (ie tastier)? Also want to say this is fascinating, thank you.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Marchogaeth and welcome, or should I say Croeso? Where do you live?

[marchogaeth]

Diolch, SIr Benfro, 600ft up, facing North can see the sea about 10 miles away. Quite new to gardening although farmed for years (odd I know), got a tunnel this year to keep me sane during a layoff from work, loved it and now want to bring a bit of field into shape.

[veggiechicken]

Marchogaeth, why don't you introduce yourself to the Vine and let them know roughly where you live, it helps with advice on planting times if you're in the sunny west or the frozen north! I alternate between Cardiff and Ferryside, Carmarthenshire. Your location sounds very appealing!
Everyone here on the Vine is very helpful and welcomes questions, never mind how daft they seem!

[zazen999]

So would vine tomatoes treated like this just be too big and heavy for a large hanging basket assuming I got all the supporting stuff right and only put one in a basket? Or are there more than just Tumbling Tom that are worth growing (ie tastier)? Also want to say this is fascinating, thank you.

No, I grew French Black's this year in a tub, and let them fall over the side and am still picking them.