hanging basket veggies

Toms are really thirsty so I lined mine with plastic (from a compost bag) and didn't punch any holes. Then when I filled it up, I buried an upside down plastic bottle with the bottom cut off (lid off). That made watering so much easier, I just filled up the bottle and let it soak in. The one I forget to add one too was really difficult to get enough water in without it spilling over the sides.

My tumbling toms did great like this, I'll be doing the same again this year.

good idea with the bottle, might steal that one

I was given something like this...

Baskets and Tubs


It has a water reserve at the base- and it worked quite well.
Only grew flowers in it - so the inverted water bottle would be helpful.

(If you don't like the look of it you could aways wrap some chicken wire round the outside and tuck in some moss)

Gel crystals also work a treat with flowers- but I wonder if you could put them in with toms or whether there is something a bit 'toxic' about them?????

I'm growing Sweet Pea Currant toms in hanging baskets this year as they have a trailing habit. Free seeds from the Daily Telegraph. There's a post about this year's offer in the Top Tips section.

Only things I'm aware of is how big the basket needs to be. I have one that is 12" and a 15" one. Both were planted with flowers last year and the 15" one was very heavy to lift and it took a lot more compost to fill it to a reasonable depth.

Some multi purpose composts are available with a "wetting agent" in it already which is supposed to reduce the amount of watering required by about 30%. Think I'll try the bottle idea this year as I watered them using a 1.5litre bottle of water each time, last year.

Alternatively try one of these upside down tomato planters. They have a 3 litre reservoir (though says a gallon on the picture which is 4.3 litres) and they do take 30 litres of compost which is quite a lot.

Upside Down Hanging Tomato Planter £12.95

You can grow peppers, courgettes or cucumbers in them as well. If you do try one let us know how you get one.

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