Sunday, August 9, 2009

Hanging Tomatoes Update

I've been meaning on doing and update on the hanging tomato baskets for a few weeks now, but just haven't had a chance. To tell the truth, there isn't much to tell. They're growing, but slowly. I wound up putting the smallest tomato seedlings I had in them (for the most part), and it shows. I've picked 5 tomatoes off 7 plants. Total. Really. There are more tomatoes forming, but still. Watering hasn't been a problem. I really think just the cool summer has been the biggest issue.

The plants I have in the ground have been doing MUCH better, but I'm not sure if that is because they are *in the ground* or if it is because they were just bigger plants when I planted them. Truthfully, I think it is because they are in the ground. Gravity has been an issue for these plants, too. Not so much that they want to grow UP (which they do), but because when we water/it rains, the water drains down the stem and then drips off, which for some reason kills all the leaves/foliage down to the drip point. This may have been a contributing factor in their somewhat stunted growth to this point.

We will try them again next year, but I may put the more robust plants I grow in them and see how they do. The plants I know like to ramble, like the Sun Gold cherries and the Ceylon.

2 comments:

Mama Pea said...

Ya know, I have never, ever, never, ever had as good luck with plants (of any kind) in pots as compared to those in the ground. Hmmm. Even if the pot is big enough and the plants don't feel root-bound is there something magical, mysterious, mystical or just plain elemental about the roots knowing there isn't a "boundary" around them? Yet there has been a gazillion books written on container gardening that seem to work. Hmmm.

Jody M said...

I'm the same way, except for houseplants (I have a lovely jasmine that has done well for me in a pot). I've never had any luck growing herbs indoors on windowsills, the strawberries in the 1/2 barrel are not looking good right now, and the tomato that was bred to grow in a container did beautifully, then jumped off the proverbial roof.