Cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets?

Hello everyone, I'm new here, looking for some advice on tomato growing.

So I haven't grown cherry tomatoes before. I was given some "Piccolo Dattero" tomatoes (we buy 'Datterini' from Ocado and they're delicious) thought I would give them a go. I don't have a greenhouse (just a mini one for small plants before the frosts) so start off indoors. But I do have a very sunny front of the house which is where I grew my toms last year, they did pretty well!

I was thinking about creating a tad more space by growing some of these cherry varities in hanging baskets. I can fix two baskets on the front wall of my house no problem.

I'm aware there are specific varieties for hanging but wondered if these date tomatoes are likely to work? Already bought so many seeds really want to avoid even more!

They are a determinate variety so I think they'll be more compact? (I can easily imagine a hanging basket tomato growing to the floor, especially if I hang it at the best height for me to water... I'm short!)

So what do we think... will these be OK? Worth a try? Next year I'll get some varieties better suited for hanging.

 

You often see varieties like Tumbling Tom in hanging baskets, but it you compare the basket grown owns to those grown in large pots or direct into the ground, there is no comparison.

The biggest problem is giving basket ones enough water on those hot sunny day, otherwise they become dwarfed in growth and fruit size.
Also find the ones grown in the soil taste better.

Would your Piccolo Dattero survive in baskets ? survive yes, but grow well as a trailer you would have to try, though also go for plan B and put some in pots and the border soil like your photo.

Just a mention, as you are new to the forum, there is a Tomato 2021 thead you may find interesting.
Tomato Growing Thread 2021

 

Thanks for the link to the thread!

I know what you mean about water. Do you think a more moisture-retentive compost would work?

I know they'll be better in the ground but it's simply a case of having too many other varieties and not having space for these as they were a late addition to my planning.

I work from home so hopefully I can top-up with water more than once a day if it's really warm. I might just try and see. I won't be cut up if I don't get much out of them as I will have plenty of other varieties (and I'm also moving house so this will be my last year with this small amount of space!)

 

Put some water retaining crystals into the compost when planting. Line basket with plastic,maybe add small plastic bottle/cup to hold some water too. Terenzo is a good tumbler btw...

 

Not according to Tomato Baby Plum - Piccolo Dattero - Franchi Seeds of Italy

"Growing habit: Indeterminate (Cordon)" plus "Variety: Indoor"



Therefore unsuitable for hanging baskets. They are also F1 so plants produced from saved seeds are unlikely to come true.

 

I would not put water retaining crystals anywhere near anything i was going to eat.
Some experts say that polymers are neurotoxins and they may be carcinogenic. It’s also a common belief that water crystals aren’t environmentally safe because the chemicals are leached into the soil.
Quote from gardeners world
(I used these for the first time and then googled them and wish I hadn't. Right on the package it warns you that they are dangerous to the environment. Although non-toxic initially, they break down into a lethal neurotoxin. )
Regards Sandy

 

Oh odd! I am sure I read they were determinate, but it's true on the back of the packet it says indeterminate.

It does however say "suitable for outside after the last frost", so the second part of the listing on that site appears incorrect.

It does say "can be grown in containers". I might just grow them in a pot on my patio then. I have a very narrow strip of patio that gets enough sunlight daily. Currently it's got my fruiting bushes on it but there is a spot that should be big enough for patio tomatoes. Well that answers my hanging basket query then!

 

Does that mean you have some bought F1 seeds and aren't going to use saved ones from shop bought tomatoes?

The only seeds I found Googling were from Franchi/Seeds of Italy a thoroughly reliable supplier of decent sized seed packets. Or unknown ebay sellers that I wouldnt trust with F1 seeds.

I'd suggest the minimum size containter for growing tomatoes in is a 10L Pot, which is the size of a Morrisons flower bucket that they sell off @ several for £1, but you need to drill drainage holes in them.

 

Nope I was never intending to grow from saved-seed. Sorry if my post wasn't clear. I just really like the variety we buy from the shops so wanted to find something that tasted somewhat close to it. Did a bit of research and found there are quite a lot of these "date" type Italian tomatoes and a friend gave me the Franchi seed packet.

Seeds of Italy saying "indoors only" seems to contradict what is said on the back of the Franchi packet.

I've been considering maybe buying a pop-up cloche for just this variety? Wonder if that would help at all. I've never grown cherry types before.

Thanks for the Morrisons tip! I can easily drill holes in. Would you recommend a bit of crockery at the bottom for drainage?

 

Cheers, wont be doing that again then