Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Planting out tumbling tomatoes - advice needed

celcius_kkwcelcius_kkw Posts: 753
edited June 2020 in Fruit & veg
Dear tomato growers

I have a couple of tumbling bella tomato plants that I am going to plant out next week. I have two hanging planters that are rectangular in shape measuring 20in in length, 8in in width and 7in in depth. 

My question is: how many tumbling tomatoes should I plant in each box and what sort of position should I plant them in. The hanging planter is not deep but it is long in shape. I feel that if I were to plant the tomato upright it would not have much more depth to extend its tap root. On the contrary if I were to plant it sideways, so to speak, then it could potentially grow along the length of the planter and fully utilise all the space..? Also, by leaning the plant towards the edge it may help the trusses trail better in the future? 

I’ve taken some pictures to illustrate my point: (demonstrating options of planting it along the length of the box, upright in the box and lastly leaning forward in the box. 




Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    You'll be surprised at how big tumblers can get.
    If it were me, I'd put 1 plant per trough in the middle and give them as much compost depth as possible but leaving a couple of inches at the top for watering

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Yes one per tub, and maybe one labeila plant each end to pretty it up.😁
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited June 2020
    I came across a pic I took of a tumbler in a basket (top left) about 10yrs ago to give you an idea of how big (and heavy) they get-

    I suppose you could squeeze in a labelia :)



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • celcius_kkwcelcius_kkw Posts: 753
    edited June 2020
    @Pete.8 @purplerallim Thanks.. I’ll go with your advice. In terms of planting position.. should I just plant them upright? Rather than slanting? 

    Pete your tomatoes look great in that picture! Did you hang those CDs to deter birds? I have major issue with seagulls on my balcony.. I’m not sure if they’re into tomatoes but if they are I may have to do the same thing as you.. 

    May I also ask why you’ve stopped growing tumbling tomatoes? Do they not taste good? 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'd just plant it upright in the middle - it'll take care of itself.
    Yes the CD were to deter the birds - pigeons crapping all over them.
    The CD's do work when the reflections are good and they have worked really well for my raspberries the last couple of years.
    I don't grow tumblers now as I've got a greenhouse and I get more tomatoes than I can cope with :)
    Hope you get a great harvest too.
    They shouldn't be fed until the first fruits form, then a tomato feed as per the label

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Plants know which way is up and which way is down! If you plant it sideways, the roots won't grow sideways, they will turn down and the stem will turn up. So save it the energy and plant it upright  ;)

  • celcius_kkwcelcius_kkw Posts: 753
    @Pete.8 @GemmaJF Cheers! Hopefully I’ll to get to share some pictures of my harvest this year with you all. :) Happy Summer Solstice! 
Sign In or Register to comment.