Hanging Tomato Plants - Pros and Cons of Hanging Tomatoes

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By johnr54

Rugged Hanging Tomato Planters

  • Gardener's Revolution Planter

    $19.95 We first experienced the wonders of upside-down vegetable growing several years ago, and we continue to be impressed with the results; satisfying crops in very little space, with very little effort. Now were pleased to offer the best hanging tomato planter made: the Gardeners Revolution™ Planter. This innovative self-watering planter is sturdier, easier to plant, and best of all, provides continuous moisture to plants without daily watering. Tomatoes grown in the Gardeners Revolution Planter dont need staking or tying, they're out of reach of most pests, and they wont get soil-borne diseases. The planter includes a sturdy polyethylene-coated steel cage, soft synthetic fabric liner, and 1-gallon water reservoir. Simply fill with planting mix, add organic fertilizer, and plant your tomato seedling. Hang in a convenient, sunny spot and youll soon be harvesting bowls of your own sweet, juicy organic tomatoes. Homegrown tomatoes at your fingertips! Hanging planter reduces pests and diseases to ensure great crops We recommend our Self-Watering Container Mix and Organic Tomato Fertilizer, sold separately The Four-Arm Plant Hanger, sold separately, is an ideal support Sturdy polyethylene-coated steel cage with soft synthetic fabric liner Planter is 8" diameter x 16" H 9" hanging chain and hook Holds 17 quarts of planting mix 1-gallon water reservoir This planter grows peppers, cucumbers and eggplants, too Gardener's Supply Exclusive - 3 years ago

  • Tomato Tree

    $29.99 There's room for three full-size tomato plants inside this oversize growing bag. It will yield a bounty of delicious, homegrown tomatoes at perfect picking height. Tomatoes grown in the Tomato Tree planter dont need staking or tying, they're out of reach of most pests, and they wont get soil-borne diseases. The powder-coated steel stand has been upgraded for greater stability and will support up to 50 pounds. Grows three full-size tomato plants Perfect for any sunny spot: patio, deck or balcony Can also be used to grow peppers or eggplants Sturdy, stable powder-coated steel stand wont wobble Our Container Mix is the perfect planting mix! We also offer Replacement Growing Bags for the Tomato Tree (each bag typically lasts one or more growing seasons) Powder-coated steel stand with broad base for stability Stand is 43-1/2" at base x 61-1/4" H Poly canvas planting bag is 15" in diameter x 18" H Holds 40 quarts of container mix Grows 3 tomato plants (not included) - 3 years ago

Many wannabe gardeners are stuck in a place where they can't have a garden. Hanging tomato plants are a popular way for many people to have a tomato garden even in an apartment or small townhouse. Here's a look at the pros and cons of hanging tomato plants.

One of the biggest advantages of hanging tomatoes is the small amount of space needed. There's no real floor space taken up, so a balcony or patio works fine for these. But there are even advantages from the tomatoes point of view as well. Most of these advantages apply to both upside down tomatoes and traditional hanging tomato planters or even a free standing planter like the upsidedown tomato garden.

Pros of Hanging Tomato Plants

Early Tomatoes - Because the soil system is open on the sides on a hanging planter, it can warm much quicker than tomatoes planted in the ground. Depending on the area of the country, you can get tomatoes 2-4 weeks earlier than those put in the soil.

Very Few Weeds - Since the tomato's soil in an a hanger, the surface area is easy to weed and mulch. In fact, more than likely, by using a potting soil or a soilless mix there will be few native weed seeds to suppress.

Soil Borne Diseases - Once again, because of the soil choices, you can significantly cut down on the incidence of soil borne diseases on your plants. In addition, one way these infect the tomatoes is by the soil splashing up on the plants when they are watered. This is less likely with the plant hanging below the soil in the planter. Finally, the plants don't sprawl on the ground, but are hanging in the air, so there is better air circulation around the tomatoes as well.

No Tomato Cages or Stakes - Goes without saying, the plants simply hang down, and you don't have to wrestle with the whole support system of a cage or staking and tying.

Ease of Pruning - Much simpler tomato pruning with the tomato hanging down, especially when you don't have to tie the plants off.

More Hubs on Growing Tomatoes

Cons of Hanging Tomato Plants

Heavy to Hang - There is a lot of dirt in one of these planters. And after you add water they can get too heavy to carry or put up on a hanger. The best advice is to put just some of the soil in the bottom, hang the planter, and then add the remaining soil and then water thoroughly. If that's still too much weight, a great alternative is the upside down tomato garden, which is free standing and sits on the ground but still lets the tomatoes hang in the air, it's just not as high.

Watering - The size of the container has to be relatively small in order to be light enough to carry and hang. This means the root system is going to be smaller than a tomato plant that is in the ground. Add in the fact that the root system is exposed to evaporation on several sides, and the end result that in the warmer summer months there are times you may need to water daily to keep a large tomato plant going.

Size of plants - One of the most common complaints is that the hanging tomatoes won't make it through the summer. The reality is that the smaller root system won't support a sprawling large tomato plant when it's really warm. In my experience, the best solution is to choose smaller determinant varieties that won't grow to be huge. When you are trying to grow tomatoes on a balcony or patio, that's probably what you need anyhow.

Overall, we think that many gardeners will find that hanging tomato planters make a great addition to the tools they have to producing the best tomato crop they've had in years.

Comments

C. C. Riter 3 years ago

Good suggestion, but I like mine planted deep in the ground increasing the root structure. I suppose a way could be developed for a hanging plan, maybe I'll try one. thanks, great hub. love my tomatoe samiches

Jerry Watson 3 years ago

Very interesting, John. I really enjoy tomatoes and love growing them, as well. Unfortunately, I am not supposed to eat tomatoes anymore, (But I still do sometimes and put up with the suffering!) Darn tomatoes didn't do well at all last year so I'm taking a break from gardening this year. Gonna work on flowers instead. Keep up the good work, John.

fortunerep profile image

fortunerep Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago

Thanks but I made my own!! check out my step by step hub

dori

myawn profile image

myawn 2 years ago

I love tomatoes and sauce made from them for cooking.Thanks nice hub.

west40 profile image

west40 2 years ago

Great advice - the warmer weather we are having has started up the gardening hormones! I hang tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers every year to save room in my garden for beans, peas, carrots and corn - it works very well. I have had the best luck with green peppers - I definitely get a better pepper yield from hanging the plants.

David Schulze profile image

David Schulze 23 months ago

I have tried this concept and it does not work. The proof. You can see this on my website at www.vegetable-gardening-made-easier.com. Plants have to grow up. This is how nature designed them. They upper portion of the leaf has to have sunlight hit it in order to work properly--not the underside. My plants continue to try to grow up not down. This growing up out of the bottom of a hanging container puts a strain on them so they eventually die. So far no one has been able to provide me with pictures to prove otherwise. The only pictures I have seen are the created ones to sell the product. I wonder if you are even willing to post an adverse comment.

Errese Atwell 21 months ago

I Tried the upside down plastic containers. The crop was poor and the plastic rotted. Not worth the expense of paying for 3 containers plus the hooks to place on the fence

manthy profile image

manthy Level 4 Commenter 13 months ago

I gave you a link from my hub

http://hubpages.com/hub/My-secret-to-growing-great

Maybe you could return the favor & we could help each other out.

I look forward to being a gr8 follower

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