They’re juicier, stronger tasting, and more vibrantly coloured than the ones you find in supermarkets which – let’s face it – are sometimes bordering on anaemic.
But how do you grow tomatoes in hanging baskets? What’s required to achieve your own tumbling cornucopia of juicy garden goodness?
We’ve written this guide to answer all the questions you might have about growing tomatoes in a hanging basket.
Tumbling Tom tomatoes are a popular variety for growing in hanging baskets. These dwarf, cascading tomatoes are perfectly suited for container gardening with their trailing vines and high yields of sweet bite-sized fruits.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about successfully growing Tumbling Tom tomatoes in hanging baskets, from choosing the right basket and soil to sowing seeds, transplanting, and caring for your plants. With just a bit of effort, you can create a beautiful, bountiful tomato display.
What is Tumbling Tom?
Tumbling Tom tomato is a dwarf, indeterminate cherry tomato variety ideal for hanging baskets and containers. The vines grow long and trailing rather than upright. As the vines lengthen under the weight of the tomatoes, they tumble attractively over the edges of pots and baskets.
This variety produces abundant clusters of sweet red, rounded cherry tomatoes continuously from midsummer through fall. The dense foliage protects the 1-2 inch fruits. Tumbling Tom is one of the most popular cascading tomatoes, along with Tumbler, Tumbling Tiger and Evergreen.
Setting Up the Hanging Basket
To get started growing Tumbling Tom tomatoes:
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Choose a sturdy hanging basket at least 12-14 inches wide and 8-10 inches deep. Smaller baskets may be too cramped for tomato roots.
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Use a quality potting mix formulated for vegetables and add a slow-release fertilizer pellet per package instructions.
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Make sure the basket has good drainage holes. Place a drip tray underneath to catch excess water.
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Hang the basket in a sunny spot protected from strong winds where it will get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Planting Tumbling Tom Seedlings
Look for young Tumbling Tom plants about 4-6 inches tall that are just starting to vine. Gently remove from pots and loosen any circling roots before planting.
Make holes in the potting mix and insert the tomatoes evenly spaced around the basket. Tilt them outward so vines spill over the edges. Plant 3-4 seedlings in a 14 inch basket.
Water thoroughly after planting until it drains from the bottom. Let drain fully before hanging up the basket.
Caring for Hanging Tomato Plants
To keep your Tumbling Tom plants healthy and productive:
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Water daily, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Add water until it runs out the drainage holes.
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Fertilize every 1-2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer according to label directions.
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Prune off any shoots or leaves below the basket to promote upward growth.
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Pinch off suckers (new stems sprouting between branches) to encourage fruiting over leafy growth.
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Use a tomato cage or trellis if desired, or allow vines to tumble freely.
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Monitor for pests like whiteflies, aphids, hornworms. Remove by hand or use insecticidal soap.
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Harvest ripe tomatoes 2-3 times per week to keep plants productive.
Harvesting Tumbling Tom Tomatoes
Begin harvesting when tomatoes reach full red color and feel firm. Gently twist off fruits, taking care not to damage vines. Expect around 1-2 pounds of cherry tomatoes per well cared for plant.
Store freshly picked tomatoes at room temperature out of direct sun. Enjoy within a week for best flavor. Wash just before eating.
Tips for Success
Follow these tips to get the most out of Tumbling Tom in hanging baskets:
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Use the largest basket possible, at least 14 inches wide, for ample root room.
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Add supports like hoops and strings for vines to prevent breakage.
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Ensure baskets get at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
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Keep soil consistently moist through daily watering.
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Stake or tie up stray vines to keep plants tidy.
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Pinch off lower leaves and shoots so growth comes from the top.
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Feed weekly or biweekly with tomato fertilizer or fish emulsion.
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Rotate baskets occasionally for even sun exposure.
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Harvest ripe tomatoes every 2-3 days to keep plants productive.
Common Issues and Solutions
Here are some potential problems and how to fix them:
Leggy vines with few fruits: Plants need more sunlight. Move baskets to the sunniest spot.
Wilting leaves: Plants need more water. Water thoroughly until it drips from the bottom.
Yellowing lower leaves: This indicates a nitrogen deficiency. Increase fertilizer or replant in fresh potting mix.
Stunted plants: Root-bound plants need repotting into larger baskets or renewed soil.
Pests: Remove by hand or use insecticidal soap sprays. Target undersides of leaves.
Blossom end rot: Keep soil moisture consistent and remove damaged fruits promptly.
Mold/mildew: Improve airflow and avoid wetting foliage when watering. Remove affected leaves quickly.
Inspiring Display Ideas
Get creative with displaying your Tumbling Tom baskets:
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Group baskets at varying heights on a tall plant stand for a tower effect.
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Flank an entryway or porch with matching baskets on either side.
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Create a vertical produce wall by hanging baskets across a sunny fence or wall.
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Combine different color dwarf tomatoes like red, yellow, and orange in one basket.
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Pair with cascading flowers like petunias for a bountiful look.
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Train vines around hoops for a living tomato wreath.
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Place baskets along a railing so vines spill over the edges.
Let your imagination run wild when designing with Tumbling Tom hanging tomato baskets!
Enjoy Months of Sweet Cherry Tomatoes
With minimal care, Tumbling Tom tomato plants are sure to shine in your hanging baskets, providing a bountiful harvest of sweet fruits all season long. Their cascading habit keeps plants neat and compact.
Planted in a hanging basket, Tumbling Tom tomatoes offer maximum yield for a small space. Train those trailing vines for optimal charm and productivity, and your basket will soon become a focal point overflowing with juicy, home-grown tomatoes!
Water Regularly
Once planted, give your tomato plant a generous amount of water.
The roots will be thirstiest at this stage, so you’re giving them the best chance of a healthy start in life.
For the first week or so, we recommend watering your tomato plant every day.
Also, keep an eye out for flowers, and add tomato feed once they begin to appear.
Reapplying feed each week will give you healthy and delicious tomatoes in no time.
Once your tomatoes are ready to eat, it’s just a case of picking them as and when you fancy.
They last quite a long time on the plant so don’t feel rushed to pick your tomatoes.
Generally, it’s better to leave them ripening on the plant than sitting in the fridge.
However, they will ripen further after picking, if harvested early, and this may reduce the chance of fruit splitting.
If it’s the first time you’ve grown your own tomatoes, savour each bite and enjoy how juicy and succulent they are.
Choose Your Variety
It’s important you choose a variety of tomato that is well suited to hanging baskets.
Ordinary tomatoes such as ‘Gardener’s Delight’ are typically staked and will need support as they grow upwards, meaning they are not suited to growing in hanging baskets.
Varieties that are best for hanging baskets include ‘Tumbling Tom’, ‘Hundreds & Thousands’, ‘Garden Pearl’ and more. These are bush or indeterminate varieties.
For the purposes of this guide, we decided to grow ‘Tumbling Toms’, which are widely available here in the UK.
TUMBLING TOM HANGING BASKET TRANSPLANT FOR MARKET and A COUPLE TIPS!
FAQ
What size hanging basket for Tumbling Tom tomatoes?
Once the plants are 10cm tall, they can be planted in the hanging basket or container, ideally using 1 plant for a 25cm basket or 3 in a 35cm basket.
What is the best way to grow tumbling tom tomatoes?
… it is more usual to sow this variety in a unheated greenhouse or on the kitchen windowsill in March – April for planting outside in containers in May
Do you remove side shoots from Tumbling Tom tomatoes?
Tomato – Tumbling Tom doesn’t need support or removal of side shoots so it’s a great choice if you’re new to growing tomatoes. It’s naturally trailing vines look great tumbling over the side of a container or hanging basket.
How often should I water tumbling tom tomatoes?
Tomato ‘Tumbling Tom’ needs 0.8 cups of water every 9 days when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5.0″ pot.
Are tumbling Tom tomatoes good for hanging baskets?
A hanging tomato basket overflowing with juicy red cherry tomatoes makes a fun addition to any outdoor space. The dwarf, cascading habit of Tumbling Tom tomatoes is perfectly suited for hanging baskets. With just a bit of effort, you can create a stunning and bountiful display. What is Tumbling Tom?
Are tumbling Tom Tomatoes easy to maintain?
With a bit of care and attention, tumbling tom tomatoes can become an easy-to-maintain addition to any garden or balcony. Introduction to Tumbling Tom tomato varieties: Tumbling Tom tomatoes are a type of small-fruited, determinate variety. It is ideal for growing in containers and hanging baskets.
What are the best tomatoes for hanging baskets?
With its cascading habit and high yields, Tumbling Tom is one of the best varieties for hanging tomato baskets. Other good cascading types include Tumbler, Tumbling Tiger, and Evergreen. But Tumbling Tom is probably the most popular. To grow Tumbling Tom tomatoes in a hanging basket:
Can tumbling tomatoes grow in a container?
It will grow happily in any container as long as it is planted in a rich compost and fed from the time the fruits begin to mature. Two or three plants in a window box will give you a heavy crop of sweet cherry tomatoes all summer. How difficult is it to grow Tumbling Toms? Cherry tomatoes are perhaps the easiest tomatoes to grow.
Why do tomatoes grow in hanging baskets?
In hanging baskets, this situation is perfect because tomatoes naturally fall over the edges, tumbling their branches, flowers, and gorgeous tomatoes over the sides. Extend the growing season, moving hanging baskets to protected areas or indoors in cold weather. Hanging at eye-level in convenient locations makes harvesting a breeze.
What are tumbling Tomatoes?
In my research phase I discovered Tumbling Tomatoes! Tumbling tomatoes are tomato plants that can cascade over the side of a pot. Indeterminate and Determinate tomatoes tend to grow upward eventually needing some kind of support.