Just to add that country home feel to growing your herbs

[Peace perfect peace]

Greetings herb growers,
I like nothing better than just being near the kitchen and being able to pick and smell our herb's the easy way,
Here's a little tip i use and may be of help to you,

You'll see at car boot sales (trunk sales) any used goods sales the old metal kitchen colander's 'sieves' (as used for rinsing veg etc)
these make ideal hanging basket's for cherry toms, or mint and most herbs,

They already have holes in them and handles so its a case of a couple of chains and a hook to hang the basket,

Ive lined mine with a piece of black platic compost bag liner and put holes in it to allow the water to flow through but keep the compost in.

It's a very handy way to grow your herbs/cherry toms/ mint etc and ive found its a talking point when visitors arrive
And its very cheap and last a life time.

 

[TomatoNut]

How on earth can you grow a tomato plant in a hanging basket?

 

[Meadowlark]

It is actually very easy....and very commonly done around here. The cherry tomato variety is best suited for hanging baskets in my experience and upside down plantings.

 

[TomatoNut]

When I tried putting a cherry tomato in one of those Topsy Turvy planters, the plant tried to turn and grow upright the way they should. How did your plants continue to grow downwards? What varietyof cherry did you use?

 

[Meadowlark]

The key is picking a variety suited to that container.

The "Tumbling Tom" is a good one and "Cherry Cascade" another. Personally I'd rather grow them the old fashioned way, but for limited space and/or novelty the hanging basket in full sun works.

 

[TomatoNut]

Ah, I see. Well, for the Topsy Turvy inventors information, they did not state that certain varieties would be better suited for their product. What is a Tumbling Tom tomato like? Is it a hybrid? Dwarf? I'm curious!

 

[Meadowlark]

Everything you ever wanted to know about Tumbling Tom:

Tumbling Tom Red Tomato

Tumbling Tom Red Tomato produces up to four pounds of fruit, per plant, throughout the summer. Great for hanging baskets and tall containers. Learn more.

bonnieplants.com

and Cherry Cascade:

Cherry Cascade Hybrid Tomato Seeds - Tomato Growers Supply Company

Cascades of sweet juicy, 1-inch red cherry tomatoes tumble from mound-shaped compact plants just right for growing in hanging baskets or other containers. Now even gardeners with only a wee bit of space can harvest delicious tomatoes that are at their peak of freshness. This is also a good...

www.tomatogrowers.com

 

[TomatoNut]

Ah, Tumbling Tom is a Bonnie plant
Bonnie plants are really pushed around here. They are expensive, but I have purchased some over the years. I don't recall seeing a Tumbling Tom in their stuff this year, but I'll have to look again! Thanks!

 

[Peace perfect peace]

Hi All,
Now Tomatonut, if you only use /buy and try what the makers want you to try, then you go ahead and stay on that road,

But if your interested in the old country ways of doing things "All tried and tested over many many years by todays gardeners and those who have passed this way and left their experience behind for those who are interested in what and how they did things to continue to use.

Now the colander method is well used by myself for all herbs of a certain size and as i said tomato, (cherry being the one variety i use this method for,) ive two colanders on the go right now One with mint and one with cherry.

 

[TomatoNut]

I grow mostly heirlooms. From seed, in my dinky backyard greenhouse. I own many varieties, and always love looking for more! . I only purchase Bonnie plants if they have a variety that interests me. My heirloom Ketchup tomato came from Bonnie. I saved the seeds, and now grow it myself. Growing tomatoes is my passion!