GARDENING Index
Diseases & Weeds
Flowers
Fruits & Vegetables
Maintenance
Organic
Planting, Transplanting & Harvesting
Tomatoes
Other

General Information
Container Gardening
Insects & Pests
Kids Gardening
Lawns & Landscaping
Plants & Foliage
Public Gardens
Seasons & Zones
Services & Associations
Shrubs & Trees
Soil & Water
Structures & Ornaments
Tools
Water Gardening
Wildlife

BEST OF GARDENING
DIY Lawn Care
Lawn Selections
Weekend Projects

SPONSOR LINKS

  • Homegrown Hint: Container Tomatoes
  • Homegrown Hint: Container Tomatoes
    From "Fresh from the Garden"
    episode DFFG-205


    Even the most space-challenged gardener can have fresh tomatoes. If you don't have the space or yard for a garden, Joe suggests growing a crop in a hanging basket or in just about any suitable large container that you may have lying around the house.

    advertisement


    One way to grow a tomato plant is in a special type of hanging basket (figure A). The tomato actually grows upside down with the fruit at the bottom rather than the top. The plant goes into the plastic planter, which then secures around the stem (figure B). Turn it upside down and feed and water it through the opening in the top (figure C). A hanging planter can hold one or two tomato plants, depending on the size of the variety you choose.
    Photo

    Figure A

    Photo

    Figure B

    Photo

    Figure C


    Another way to grow tomatoes is in a large container such as an old trash can (figure D):

    1. Drill a few holes in the bottom (figure E) and add a few inches of gravel for water drainage (figure F).
    Photo

    Figure D

    Photo

    Figure E

    Photo

    Figure F


    2. Punch or cut holes in the bottom of a regular trash bag (figure G), place it in the can (figure H) and add soil halfway up the sides (figure I).
    Photo

    Figure G

    Photo

    Figure H

    Photo

    Figure I


    3. Plant the tomato in the soil and add water.

    4. To help the tomato plant get a good start, add a slow-release fertilizer around the base (figure J).

    5. As the plant grows, it will need some stability, so add a wire cage on top to provide support for all the new tomatoes (figure K).
    Photo

    Figure J

    Photo

    Figure K


  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: