The advantage of this
method is that it has a small horizontal footprint as opposed to the
natural
sprawling habit of tomato plants. Also, the tomatoes are not allowed to
touch the rotting, gnawing environment of the garden soil.
The
disadvantage is that it must be watered every day. And you may
have to construct a hanger in full Sun to support the weight. Tomatoes like hot days and cooler nights, and a slightly acid pH of 6.2 to 6.8..
Transplant
into large
(2-5 gallon) hanging planters that have had their center drainage hole
enlarged to 3" diameter. The Planter can be any container that you can
cut a hole in. A Wastepaper Can or 5-gallon Bucket will do fine.
It is best to select a round one.
The Tomato plant is inserted from the bottom
after
its root ball has been submerged in Manure
Tea
or liquid plant fertilizer, until air bubbles quit rising to the
surface.
The retainer
can
be cut
from any flat plastic.
A recycled quart oil "can"
or detergent container
works
fine. |
|
A Retainer
is inserted between the inside of the planter and the root ball to
prevent
the plant from falling down out of the drainage hole. Then the
container is filled with Compost
or other nutrient-rich soil.
Individual
heavy Stems can be supported by wires fastened to a Hanging Chain.
Electrical wire is used here. It is available by the foot at most
Hardware Stores.
12-3 is the ideal size: 2 plastic-coated
conductors and 1 bare. Use the plastic-coated ones, and leave room
in the wire collar for stem growth.
The planter must be supported
from the bottom because of the weight that will be involved with a
large
tomato plant and the accompanying crop. It must also be hung from a
substantial
overhead support.
Allow every side shoot to produce only one cluster
of fruit,
and cut the shoot off leaving one or two leaves past the flower cluster.
This slows the plants expansion and forces more nutrients to the fruit,
which tends to produce larger tomatoes.
If you have clusters of 4 tomatoes on 6 side shoots, that gives you 24
large tomatoes, which is about all the main stem and container can support.
Of course, if you grow Cherry Tomatoes, weight is not as much of a concern.
Water the plant every day
with just enough DILUTED Tea or fertilizer so it oozes from the bottom
of the planter. Any liquid that leaves the planter will contain
nutrients
that leached from the
soil, so keep it to a
very minimum.
Find
a Determinate (bush) Tomato
Plant rather than an Indeterminate (vine). The bush-type is more
compact,
whereas the vine type will keep growing longer and longer. A 12" transplant
is about right for this procedure. Hang it where it gets Sunshine all
day
long. Cover the top of the Planter to conserve moisture.
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