My Tomatoes Are in the Bag

[Willis]

I got started late, found the fabric bags need more water than the ones with a slick finish and I don't get a full day's sun, but FINALLY I saw a speck of RED in the foliage this PM

[SusanG]

I don't understand. Can you explain your setup?

[KatherineA]

Either the bag comes with a small slit or hole in the bottom or you make one. Stick the tomato plant roots into the hole into the bag, leaving the plant on the outside. Fill the bag with dirt and hang (or vice versa). it is easier to fill if it is already hanging rather than filling it and trying to lift a heavy bag of dirt to a hook. The tomato grows "down". the dirt in the bag gets watered. Hang in a sunny spot and viola! tomatoes!

Willis' set up looks way better than the ones I tried with another type of bag.

[Willis]

I suspended the bags on 1/2" galvanized pipe when a shepherd's hook arrangement (on the left) wouldn't carry the weight. The photo below was taken on 6/4/2012, about a month later than I would have usually planted tomatoes. Incidentally, the bags can be slit on the sides and serve in lieu of the "topsy-turvy as seen on TV" strawberry planter, as well.

[kkrapf]

This is very interesting. Does this help to counteract some of the issues with tomato plants getting too heavy for themselves? I've lost a number of branches and some tomatoes when the branches have gotten too heavy to support themselves during storms.

[KatherineA]

Staking and tying helps with the breakage, but it is hard to tie up everything. In particuarly it seems that many heirlooms are branchy (indeterminate - I think its called). I try to stake the main stem early, then if they get out of control with many branches not tied to the stake, I wind twine around the plant and tie that big bunch of stems to the stake to try to contain it and help it stay upright. It helps.

I like the tomato cages but they are really pricey for such cheaply made things. I try to avoid doing that if at all possible because they cost a lot (if you have over a dozen plants like I do) and do not hold up well season to season.

[LFE]

You can make cages out of 4x4 horse type fencing that hold up and allow you to reach through....
- We also use metal "T" stakes to keep them from falling over.

[Willis]

This is very interesting. Does this help to counteract some of the issues with tomato plants getting too heavy for themselves?

The bags aren't going to reduce the weight stress on the plant stems. The main advantage to the hanging arrangement, as I see it, is to take maximum advantage of an area with limited space-e.g. the deck. In my case it also elevates the plant so it receives more sunlight.That lack of light makes for a bushy plant with meager fruit The deck railing incidentally does seem to be adding support.

[kkrapf]

I've got them staked (and staked again), but they've overgrown the stakes by a good sum. The tomato cages are cool, but these babies grew seven, eight, nine feet tall. They're not exactly bushy, but they're not overflowing with fruit. Then again, I'm not a huge tomato fan, so that works out pretty well for me.

[KatherineA]

try cutting off the stems that do not have blossoms - you might get more fruit that way - then again - if a few tomatoes is good for you - leave the stems be.

[kkrapf]

try cutting off the stems that do not have blossoms - you might get more fruit that way - then again - if a few tomatoes is good for you - leave the stems be.

KatA, thanks. I occasionally cut off branches that just seemed to be hanging down and not adding much to the overall plant. I went out and did a pruning with your advice in mind (and did a little more tying up), so we'll see how that does.

[LFE]

Cutting off the sucker branches is a good thing as all they produce is additional weight.

[SusanG]

Clever setup - I can see it would be good with limited space. Thanks for explaining!

[LazerFlash]

We tried the "name brand" this year. (Although it was bought in Ollie's and was labeled, "Last Year's Design.) Like you, Willis, we had a later start - but ours was due to a catastrophic fall from the deck railing several weeks after the initial hanging. We've yet to see any color but green on the replanting. I suspect had we not lost the first planting - which had already started showing fruit - we would've been well into the harvest. But, this also may be due to the fact that ours is hanging on the east side of our house and probably isn't getting enough sunlight.

One big benefit (so far) is that the hanging plants seem to be holding their own against fungal and insect invaders. While the foliage on my pot-bound plants on the deck have pretty much been devastated by yet another fungus and also provided a meal for several hornworm caterpillars, none of the plants in the hanging location have been touched. {Fingers crossed} Fortunately, we got a real good harvest of cherry tomatoes and a bunch of really sweet orange-colored tomatoes that were SUPPOSED to be Beefsteaks, (but clearly are not).

Incidentally, the bags can be slit on the sides and serve in lieu of the "topsy-turvy as seen on TV" strawberry planter, as well.

Well, we had no success with that version. I'm not sure if "Last Year's Design" was just bad, we started our strawberries too late, we're watering too much or too little, the plants weren't good for hanging, it's in the wrong location and/or something else. The upshot is that I probably won't use a topsy-turvy style planter for strawberries again.