While everyone loves to eat fresh tomatoes, many of us don't think we can grow them because we don't have the space for a garden. But it turns out a traditional garden isn't necessary, as you can easily grow great tomatoes right on a balcony or your patio. We take a look at a few ideas for doing just that.
Container Grown Tomatoes
First of all, with any type of tomato plant you are going to need a decent amount of sunlight. If you can't get your vegetable plants at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, then you may have to resort to indoor gardening of some sort, using grow lights as a light source.
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The traditional way to grow tomatoes on a balcony is to use some type of container. One of the needs for container grown tomatoes is some type of staking or support. One other constant need for container grown plants is to keep them watered consistently. One way to do this is to use a self watering container. The Earth Box planter system is a great solution for a self watering container, it will hold more than one tomato plant, has a watering system that can't be overwatered, and you can purchase separately a support frame for staking tomatoes and other climbing plants. It has a small footprint, about 1 foot by 2 feet, and is designed to be used to grow vegetables.
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The traditional way to grow tomatoes on a balcony is to use some type of container. One of the needs for container grown tomatoes is some type of staking or support. One other constant need for container grown plants is to keep them watered consistently. One way to do this is to use a self watering container. The Earth Box planter system is a great solution for a self watering container, it will hold more than one tomato plant, has a watering system that can't be overwatered, and you can purchase separately a support frame for staking tomatoes and other climbing plants. It has a small footprint, about 1 foot by 2 feet, and is designed to be used to grow vegetables.
Earth Box Garden on Amazon
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Hanging Tomato Planters
Another increasingly popular way to grow tomatoes on the balcony is to use one of the upside down tomato planters from Felknor Ventures, which are sold as the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter. These clever planters work fairly well, in spite of the fact that they are quite unorthodox with the plant hanging down from the bottom of the container. It holds about 3.5 gallons of soil, and has a split sponge that keeps the dirt and most of the moisture in the planter, while letting the plant hang down. These are great for the balcony, and you can hang them from overhead and then take up no floor space with the tomato plant. Some people will even try growing 2 plants in them, with one out the bottom, and another growing out of the watering hole on the top. The biggest caveat for these is that a planter full of soil and water is quite heavy, so be sure the find a sturdy place to screw in the hanger bolt. But many people have had a lot of success with upside down hanging tomato planters.
One thing they are great for is getting those early spring tomatoes growing. The soil can heat up more quickly in these planters and that can give the tomatoes a jump start.
One thing they are great for is getting those early spring tomatoes growing. The soil can heat up more quickly in these planters and that can give the tomatoes a jump start.
Topsy Turvy Stuff on Amazon
Here's the best deals on Topsy Turvy Planters on Amazon.
Felknor Ventures 82506 Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Tomato Planter
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 11/12/2009) 
Felknor Ventures FV504C Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Hanging Tomato Planter
Amazon Price: $12.09 (as of 11/12/2009)
As Seen On TV! Topsy Turvy :: The Upside Down Tomato Planter
Amazon Price: $7.75 (as of 11/12/2009)
For More of a Garden on the Balcony or Patio
If just one or two tomato plants is not quite enough to satisfy your needs, there is a hybrid of the 2 approaches that may fit your needs. The Upside Down Tomato Garden is a container that stand up on a stand. It has room for 2 or more tomato plants to hang down from the planter, but has a large enough soil container to grow some other plants that grow in the traditional upright position. You can grow something like peppers or eggplant, but a more common approach is to plant herbs or even flowers in the top (although my preference is salad fixings like lettuce, spinach, and maybe a few radishes.) It has a relatively small footprint, but it gives you the closest thing you can find to a garden right there on your patio or balcony.
With one of these you may not need to use tomato cages or supports, but you may need to secure the planter itself.
So, give one of these ideas a try. There are few things that taste as good as a fresh tomato off the vine, and just because you live in an apartment or condo is no reason to deny yourself that pleasure.
With one of these you may not need to use tomato cages or supports, but you may need to secure the planter itself.
So, give one of these ideas a try. There are few things that taste as good as a fresh tomato off the vine, and just because you live in an apartment or condo is no reason to deny yourself that pleasure.
Upside Down Tomato Garden on Amazon
Felknor Ventures 82506 Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Tomato Planter
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Upside-down Tomato Garden
Amazon Price: $69.97 (as of 11/12/2009)
Felknor Ventures FV504C Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Hanging Tomato Planter
Amazon Price: $12.09 (as of 11/12/2009)
More Information on Growing Tomatoes Upside Down
There are several advantages to growing tomatoes upside down. These articles take a look at some of these advantages.
- Earth Box Garden - Does the Earth Box Planter Work?
- The Earth Box garden system has been around since 2001. It is a container gardening system, primarily targeting vegetable container gardens. Let's take a look at its features.
- Upside Down and Topsy Turvy Tomatoes - Grow Tomatoes Hanging Upside Down Without A Garden
- Tomatoes are a popular choice with the home gardener. Almost everyone loves the idea of freshly picked tomatoes to use as part of their summer diet. The biggest obstacle to growing tomatoes is the space required. For those trying to grow tomatoes on their patio or balcony, using a container to grow tomatoes still takes up valuable space, and you are usually restricted to using some of the smaller varieties of tomatoes, like the ever popular Patio tomato. These varieties have small vines and don't need a lot of staking, but usually don't produce the large juicy tomatoes that we all dream of picking.
- Grow Tomatoes in Pots - Extend Your Growing Season
- Growing tomatoes in pots allows you to put your garden almost anywhere that has enough sunlight. But it brings with it the added advantage of mobility for your garden. In addition, you can put your garden in spots that just are not feasible most of the time. But there are a few concerns that are unique to growing tomatoes in pots that require a little more up front planning. Keep these in mind and your will be treated to a bumper crop.
Some more tomato growing tips
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animal_lover79 wrote...
You have some really great information and tips here. I would like to try growing tomatoes this way. Five star lens!
Posted July 07, 2008
by jsr54
I enjoy writing gardening articles and home improvement tips. This includes tomato tips, garden tools like compost bins, garden sheds and birding item...
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