Tomatoes in hanging baskets

[Growerwith2girls]

I have some tumbling Toms that I was going to grow in some old plastic hanging baskets in my GH. Has anyone got any tips on how to set them up so they don't dry out too easy? Was going to line them with newspaper. Would that be sufficient? Thanks

[burnie]

I grew them last year in my greenhouse and had to water twice a day, even up here in NE Scotland, where it's not that hot. I had moisture retentive compost with added layers of plastic in the bottom to slow down the water draining out of the bottom, didn't really work. This year my hanging baskets will be outside with peas, sweetpeas and petit pois in them.

[rary]

Not sure what kind of basket you are using but you do need a reservoir at the bottom and you could also try putting a bit of sponge in to hold some water

[bramble]

Putting a saucer in the bottom is the basket can help as well Rary.

[Lumpy]

I have 4 16in baskets (the plastic ones with the bits you can remove) and grow Tumbling Tom red and yellow. I shove a liner in then about an inch of cardboards before the compost goes in.
Mine are grown outside and do need watering daily. I use an old plastic drinks bottle for that. Feeding every now and then is also important.

I still have 2 bags of frozen toms from my hanging baskets as they were very perky last year.

[Growerwith2girls]

Ok sounds like hanging baskets in the GH is not the best way to go as I can only water once a day at an absolute maximum. Will have a re-think!

[nickdub]

Ok sounds like hanging baskets in the GH is not the best way to go as I can only water once a day at an absolute maximum. Will have a re-think!

Any particular reason why you were thinking of using baskets, rather than growing them on the ground ?

[Scarlet]

Ok sounds like hanging baskets in the GH is not the best way to go as I can only water once a day at an absolute maximum. Will have a re-think!

I grow a couple in baskets, they usually give very early toms in the GH. They do dry out quickly, water well and keep an upturned bottle full of water in it that will slowly seep in. If it gets too hot I just unhook and drop them down and stick in a tray of water for the day.

[Growerwith2girls]

Any particular reason why you were thinking of using baskets, rather than growing them on the ground ?

Mainly to save ground space for my other GH plants. Only have a small GH.

[Growerwith2girls]

I grow a couple in baskets, they usually give very early toms in the GH. They do dry out quickly, water well and keep an upturned bottle full of water in it that will slowly seep in. If it gets too hot I just unhook and drop them down and stick in a tray of water for the day.
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Will try the upturned bottle trick.. thanks!

[nickdub]

Mainly to save ground space for my other GH plants. Only have a small GH.

OK, I understand - my thought would be roughly the opposite of what you're planning with the baskets, but it would maximize use of the space in your GH. It would be to grow a couple of indeterminate tomatoes in bottomless pots sat on your border soil. The idea would be start them off tall and then as they grow up a string or whatever to take off the majority of the bottom leaves, so you are left with only the stalk and any fruit at the lower level. I think this might work well for you, perhaps in another year.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow 4 Tumbler plants ever year in hanging baskets on a south facing wall. I use the baskets shaped like a large ice cream cone 12" across at the top, no messing about, water well once a day and feed regularly.