Hanging Tomato Plants for Sale: A Complete Guide

Hanging tomato plants are a fun and convenient way to grow delicious tomatoes without taking up valuable garden space. As summer approaches, you may be wondering where you can find hanging tomato plants for sale to add to your patio, balcony or yard This complete guide covers everything you need to know about selecting, planting, and caring for hanging tomato plants

Where to Buy Hanging Tomato Plants

Hanging tomato plants are becoming more widely available at garden centers, nurseries, big box stores, and online retailers. Here are some of the best places to find a good selection of hanging tomato varieties:

• Local garden centers and nurseries – Visit shops in your area to hand select healthy plants and get expert advice, Many offer a good selection of hanging tomato varieties

• Big box home improvement stores – Stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart stock hanging tomato plants seasonally, often under their own brand name.

• Online mail order nurseries – Order hanging tomato plants and have them conveniently shipped right to your door. Retailers like Burpee, Gurney’s and Park Seed offer a wide variety online.

• Farmer’s markets – Some local farmers and nurseries sell hanging tomato plants at farmer’s markets in the spring and early summer.

• Specialty produce markets – Shops focused on heirloom and organic varieties may carry unique hanging tomato plants.

• Local nursery wholesalers – Businesses that supply plants to retailers sometimes sell direct to consumers as well.

Best Varieties for Hanging Baskets

When selecting tomato varieties for hanging baskets, look for dwarf, bushy determinate types or “tumbling” indeterminate tomatoes. Some top varieties include:

• Tiny Tim – A miniature tomato perfect for small hanging baskets.

• Tumbling Tom – Produces 1″ cherry tomatoes on long cascading vines.

• Red Robin – A dwarf tomato bred for containers that stays under 12″ tall.

• Husky Red – A cherry tomato with good disease resistance and high yields.

• Sun Sugar – Very sweet yellow cherry tomatoes on compact, manageable vines.

• Candyland Red – Beautiful currant-sized tomatoes on dwarf plants.

• Mountain Magic – Firm, sweet red cherry tomatoes that grow well in baskets.

Preparing Hanging Baskets

The right hanging basket and soil will give your tomatoes the best start. Look for baskets at least 10″ wide and 12″ deep with drainage holes. Line baskets with coconut fiber liners to help retain moisture. Use a quality potting mix formulated for vegetables, or make your own mix by combining potting soil with compost. For larger tomato varieties, use at least a 12″ basket. Set up hanging brackets or hooks in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun.

Planting and Caring for Hanging Tomatoes

Plant one tomato start per hanging basket, buried deeply up to its top leaves. Pinch off lower leaves touching the soil. After planting, water well and continue watering daily. Hanging tomatoes dry out faster than in-ground plants. To encourage growth and fruiting, apply a balanced vegetable fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Prune back lower shoots so all the energy goes into the main stem and fruit. Stake or trellis vines for larger varieties. Bring baskets indoors or move to a sheltered spot before frost hits.

Tips for Maximizing Harvests

Here are some useful tips for getting the most out of your hanging tomato plants:

• Choose small-fruited varieties like cherries which do well in containers.

• Use at least a 10-12 inch basket and drill extra drainage holes.

• Try “self-watering” hanging baskets to maintain optimal moisture.

• Keep plants well-fed with tomato fertilizer to support heavy fruiting.

• Prune off lower shoots and leaves to focus energy on fruit production.

• Move baskets to warmer spots away from wind and cold to extend the season.

• Bring plants indoors before frost to continue harvesting tomatoes.

Enjoying the Rewards

The beauty of planting tomatoes in hanging baskets is being able to locate them wherever space allows, whether on a balcony, patio, or in the garden. Plus harvesting requires no bending or squatting! Train vines around the basket edges for optimal presentation. Hanging tomato plants also make great gifts for gardener friends and family. With proper care and feeding, even compact varieties can produce impressive yields on cascading vines. Homegrown hanging tomato plants are a novelty that keeps on giving delicious returns.

Yes, hanging tomato plants, particularly cherry tomatoes or other small-fruited varieties, can be successful, especially in limited spaces. Upside-down planters offer several advantages, like reducing the risk of soilborne pests and diseases and freeing up ground space.

Burying a whole egg in the planting hole when transplanting tomatoes is a gardening trick to provide a slow-release source of calcium, potentially preventing blossom end rot.