Hanging Tomatoes

[NauticalFishwife]

I have a silicone collapsable collanders on the boat. It's wonderful. Folds FLAT, easy to clean, soft... now the upside down plants on the boat. I keep thinking of the birds they would attract and those droppings.

[bwalker42]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

In Portugal, the "Tomatoes", is what we normally refer to the testicles...so everytime I see this thread, I feel dirty....

Hanging tomatoes...Ianhlnd comes to mind

Frequent visiter are ye? Hmmm..

[wind_magic]

I wouldn't do it.

Having grown tomatoes indoors in a house I can tell you it's really not that practical. Yes, you might get some tomatoes, but by the time you go to all the trouble you'd be better off to just clean the cushions and look for spare change to buy some tomatoes on shore. Why ? Well here are some things a lot of people don't know about tomato plants ...

- They need a LOT of water
- They STINK. Yes, the foliage smells bad, especially if you brush against it.
- They ITCH. The foliage will make your skin itch
- It's a LOT of trouble for very little payoff.

Plants like this are really better left to those on shore who can grow them outdoors. It can be done, but I can think of about a thousand things I'd rather be doing than trying to grow tomato plants on a boat. Better to sprout seeds, or grow some basil or something, at least basil smells nice.

[bwalker42]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Don't show those to Sea Angel or she might get her 5001st idea!!

Wow!! and how did I miss that?? Cam, you always have my back!!
Thanks!

Sea Angel

[purplemoon]

The Wife and I have a PVC hydroponics set up to hang off our port side, were able to grow tomatoes, green beans, squash, and cucumbers. just have to keep the fresh-water pumping thru it.

[TanyaA]

Originally Posted by purplemoon

The Wife and I have a PVC hydroponics set up to hang off our port side, were able to grow tomatoes, green beans, squash, and cucumbers. just have to keep the fresh-water pumping thru it.

I would love to see/hear more about this!

[baquastr]

Originally Posted by buckeyesailor

I have a neighbor that SWEARS by them! I drove by for a couple of years, noticed them, then did a job for her and got the scoop.....

It appears they are THE way to go.....take up little space and you don't have to worry about them rotting on the ground.......

I'll most likely give them a go this year........and can't see why it wouldn't work for other veggies.....Peppers, Cucumber, and the like.....
I thought about them last year for Sailboats......since I've heard fresh tomatoes in the Carib are scarce........

Ya it will be great if they both get active on this forum... and share their exp. with gaming...

[Soontobecruiser]

My father-in-law made his own "topsy turvey" He took a 5 gallon bucket and drilled holes in it. He then planted 6 small tomato plants in it. He did get lots of tomatoes, but a couple of things that I would do differently are 1. Use only 2 or maybe three plants and 2. put a lid on the top of the bucket. I think the lid would help with the water evaporating. I don't know how it would work on a boat getting salt spray all over it. He did have to water it daily.

[zeehag]

is difficult at best to grow anything on a cruising boat that is actively cruising---either the plant dies of salt water or it falls overboard in a goood blow--the only thing i grow on board is regular lawn grass for my kat---i use a 18X18 piece of cheepo grass from homely depot----works great but the places the salt water hit die faster than i can keep up with---goood thing is 18X18.....

the steamer is a good tool as it is multi functional----
i use a regular colandar for my pasta....fits well with other kitchen/galley items of similar shape

[roadranger]

A perfect container for upside-down 'maters is the large 3 gallon kitty litter container. It has handles just like a 5 gallon bucket, but is just a bit smaller, will weigh less when filled, and is more convenient.

Drill a 1.25-inch hole in the center of the lid and another in the center of the bottom. They do not have to be perfectly round.

Turn the container upside down and place your starter 'mater plant up through the bottom hole of the container. I prefer the little sweet-100s or similar cherry or grape size tomatoes.

Turn the whole thing over and hang it by the handle for the next step.

Fill it completely with Miracle-Grow potting soil.

Duct-tape a coffee filter over the hole in the lid (on the inside). Then snap the lid onto the hanging container.

Now you can turn the whole thing over, again, and let it grow bigger, for a while, before you hang it upside down, again.

The 'mater plant will try to grow upward, t'ward the sun, so you should let it grow right-side-up for a while until it gets buds or flowers on it. Then turn it over and hang it upside-down (lid-side up), again. Now the plant's own weight will prevent it from growing upwards... mostly.

Leave the lid on and water it every day through the hole... about 10-12 fluid ounces a day should be enough, unless it is very hot out. The small hole and the coffee filter that you taped on the inside of the lid will prevent heavy rain from flooding your plant (and dirtying your deck).

If you buy one large starter plant and one small starter plant then you can stagger your harvest and have several vines of cherry 'maters for 6 months.

It worked well for us... in Michigan... in our back yard. It should work well on a boat, and take up a little less room than the 5 gallon bucket. It is much cheaper than purchasing the kit from T.V. And, if you don't have a cat, you can use the kitty litter as oil-dry.

It's a good thing ;~)