Location, location, location
Choose a sunny spot for your hanging baskets as your tomato plants will need at least 6 hours of sun a day. They also need to be in a sheltered spot, away from strong winds.
The baskets are mobile, so if you find they’re not getting enough sun, you can move them. They are also less prone to attack from pests as they don’t touch the ground.
Getting started
Before choosing your hanging basket, think about where it will hang. With the weight of the soil, water and tomatoes it will be heavy so make sure it will be secure.
The best tomato plants for hanging are varieties of cherry and grape tomatoes. These small-fruited plants hold up to container growing much better than large tomatoes, which will be too heavy.
Put a liner in the basket and fill 2/3 full with high-quality potting mix and a slow release fertiliser formulated for food crops. You could also mix in some hydrogels to retain some moisture. Add your tomato plant (or plants if you are using a large basket) and top up with potting mix. Water in well and hang in your chosen spot.
Water regularly
Plan to water your hanging tomato basket daily or twice a day if it’s hot. If possible add a drip irrigation system to the basket.
Suitable cherry and grape tomato varieties include:
- Tommy Toes
- Sweet Bite
- Yellow Pear
- Yellow Cherry
- Cherry Roma
- Cherry Truss
- Grape
