Cherry tomatoes are a popular choice for home gardeners due to their vibrant color, sweet taste, and versatility in various dishes. Growing cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets is not only an efficient use of space but also provides aesthetic appeal to your garden or balcony. The hanging method allows the vines to trail down elegantly, making harvesting easier and reducing the risk of soil-borne diseases.
In this article, we’ll share you every step of growing cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets, from choosing the right variety to caring for your plants and ensuring a bountiful harvest.
1. Choosing the Right Variety of Cherry Tomatoes
Before you begin, it’s essential to select the correct variety of cherry tomatoes that thrive in a hanging basket. While most cherry tomato plants can be grown this way, there are specific types that perform particularly well due to their compact size and trailing nature.
Here are some recommended varieties for your hanging baskets:
- Tumbler: This variety is one of the most popular for hanging baskets. Tumbler tomatoes have a trailing growth habit and produce sweet, small, red fruits.
- Hundreds and Thousands: Known for producing large quantities of small cherry tomatoes, this variety is perfect for cascading over the sides of a basket.
- Micro Tom: As one of the smallest tomato varieties, Micro Tom is ideal for hanging baskets due to its compact size, while still offering plenty of delicious fruit.
- Cherry Falls: Another variety with a cascading habit, Cherry Falls produces an abundance of juicy red tomatoes.
These varieties are bred to perform well in confined spaces like hanging baskets, ensuring that you get the best yield possible in limited growing areas.
2. Choosing the Right Hanging Basket
Selecting the right hanging basket is crucial for the success of your cherry tomato plant. There are a few factors to keep in mind:
Size: Cherry tomato plants require plenty of room to spread their roots and grow properly. Aim for a basket with a minimum diameter of 12–14 inches. This size provides enough soil capacity (around 3-5 gallons) to hold the necessary nutrients and moisture for healthy plant growth.
Material: The material of the basket matters as well. Plastic baskets are lightweight and help retain moisture, making them ideal for hot climates. Wire or metal baskets with a lining (like coir or sphagnum moss) allow for better air circulation but may dry out faster. Choose a basket material that fits your local climate and watering schedule.
Drainage: Ensure that your basket has proper drainage holes at the bottom. Tomatoes dislike waterlogged soil, which can lead to root rot and other diseases. If your basket doesn’t come with enough holes, consider adding a few extra to prevent standing water.
3. Choosing the Right Soil Mix
A quality soil mix is vital to growing healthy cherry tomatoes. Since tomatoes are heavy feeders, they require a nutrient-rich growing medium. Avoid using garden soil directly in the hanging basket, as it is too heavy and may not drain well.
Ideal soil composition:
- Lightweight potting mix: Choose a potting mix designed for containers or baskets. These are formulated to be well-aerated and retain the right amount of moisture.
- Compost or organic matter: Mix in compost to improve nutrient content. Compost provides essential nutrients that support plant growth and encourages strong root development.
- Perlite or vermiculite: To enhance drainage and prevent soil compaction, add perlite or vermiculite to the mix. This ensures that the roots get enough air and don’t become waterlogged.
4. Planting Your Cherry Tomatoes
Once you have your basket and soil ready, it’s time to plant your cherry tomato seedlings. You can start tomatoes from seeds or purchase seedlings from a nursery.
Steps to planting:
- Fill the basket: Fill your hanging basket about 2/3 full with the prepared potting mix.
- Plant the seedling: Make a small hole in the center of the soil and gently place the tomato seedling in it. If you’re planting more than one plant in a basket, ensure that each seedling has at least 6–8 inches of space between them.
- Bury deeply: Tomatoes benefit from being planted deeply, as they can develop roots along the buried stem. Plant the seedling deep enough to cover the bottom few leaves.
- Fill the rest of the basket: Gently pat down the soil around the base of the plant, making sure not to compact it too tightly.
5. Supporting Your Cherry Tomatoes
While cherry tomatoes are smaller than other tomato varieties, they still need support to grow properly. Since your plant will hang down from the basket, traditional staking methods won’t work. Instead, consider using the following methods:
- Caging or trellising: You can place a small tomato cage in the basket to support the plant’s upward growth before it starts to cascade over.
- Twine or string: Gently tie the vines to a piece of twine or string to keep them in place. Be careful not to tie too tightly, as this can damage the stems.
6. Watering and Feeding
One of the biggest challenges of growing tomatoes in hanging baskets is managing water. Since baskets dry out faster than in-ground gardens, you need to pay extra attention to watering.
Watering tips:
- Frequency: Water your hanging basket daily, especially during hot weather. In cooler climates, check the soil moisture by sticking your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
- Time of day: Water in the morning to give the plants moisture throughout the day. Avoid watering in the evening, as this can promote fungal growth due to prolonged moisture on the leaves.
- Avoid over-watering: While it’s important to keep the soil moist, avoid waterlogging. Ensure excess water can drain freely from the basket.
Fertilizing:
Since cherry tomatoes are heavy feeders, regular fertilizing is crucial for healthy growth and fruit production.
- Type of fertilizer: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer specifically designed for tomatoes or vegetables.
- Schedule: Fertilize once every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. For liquid fertilizers, follow the instructions on the package for proper dilution and frequency.
7. Pest and Disease Management
Cherry tomatoes, like all tomato plants, can be vulnerable to pests and diseases. The good news is that growing them in hanging baskets reduces the risk of soil-borne diseases. However, you still need to keep an eye out for common issues.
Some common pests and easy ways to repel them
- Aphids: These tiny insects suck the sap from the plant, causing wilting and yellowing. You can remove them by spraying the plant with a strong stream of water or applying insecticidal soap.
- Whiteflies: Similar to aphids, whiteflies can damage the leaves and fruit. Use yellow sticky traps or neem oil to control these pests.
- Spider mites: These pests create small webs on the underside of leaves and suck plant juices. You can control them with insecticidal soap or horticultural oils.
Common diseases:
- Blight: Tomato blight causes dark spots on the leaves and can spread quickly. Remove infected leaves immediately, and ensure proper air circulation by thinning out the foliage.
- Fungal infections: Ensure your plants are not overwatered, and avoid getting water on the leaves to reduce fungal infections.
8. Time to Harvesting Your Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes generally start ripening about 60-80 days after planting. You can harvest them once the tomatoes turn a vibrant red (or yellow, depending on the variety). Gently twist the fruit off the vine or use scissors to snip it free.
Remember, cherry tomatoes taste best when left on the vine until fully ripe, but you can also pick them slightly early and let them ripen indoors.