Good morning. This post was going to contain one question, but it multiplied to three. Are there any annual flowers that should not be planted with tomatoes? I am planning on having several hanging pots on my porch with trailing tomatoes and would like something colourful to visually flesh out the surface area. Also, can I get away with more than one tomato plant per pot (10-12" in diameter, same depth)? I have no idea what varieties I am using. I was given two varieties of heritage tomatoes last year and saved the seeds. Both are larger than grocery-store cherry tomatoes, but much smaller than the Ontario vine-grown hot-house tomatoes. One was deep purple and the other yellow. The plan at the moment is to grow them in a mix of Pearlite and peat moss watered with some sort of organic fertilizer. It seems to me that this is the equivalent of hydroponic gardening, since there is no real soil. There is a hydroponic specialist here--is this the sort of place I would find appropriate fertilizer?
Most sites I have on companion planting list other veggies or herbs that aren't good combos with tomatoes. This site might be helpful. http://www.minifarmhomestead.com/gardening/companionplant.htm#Good & Bad Companion Plants You might also find this interesting and helpful. http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html You should grow one tomato per pot or you won't have enough room for their roots. If you had the tomatoes near each other when they were growing last year, you may find that they have crossed and you won't get the same tomatoes you had last year. A mix of peat moss and perlite is basically what most potting medium (soil) is made of. I would recommend fish emulsion mixed with seaweed for an organic fertilizer. Newt
In a pot that size - 10 -12" diameter and depth, I would not put more than one tomato plant. I would make sure you grow only 'determinate' tomato varieties that are smaller and more bush-like - as opposed to 'indeteminate' vine types. You said you were growing in a hanging basket though, so vine types would be appropriate. Mixing flowers and veggies is a wonderful thing to do, and can make your garden and pots very attractive. Veggies are usually deep rooters, so I try to put shallow rooting flowers and strawberry plants, that won't interfere with the vegetable root systems. 'companion planting' can be a wonderful thing. For instance, lettuce and sunflowers can be good companions in the garden, because the low growing lettuce acts as a living mulch to keep the soil moist, while the tall sunflowers to the south or west provide light shade for this heat sensitive salad crop! Cabbage, lobelia, and yellow calendula make colorful companions. Calendulas also attract beneficial insects. There is no limit to how many things you can put together in one pot. Just make sure, your veggie roots have planty of room to sprawl for the season. Don't know about hydroponics - thought that was strictly growing in just water, and no growing medium whatsoever! Just use regular veggie and flower fertilizer to feed the plants in your peat moss/perlite mix. You won't need any special hydroponic formula. As for your tomato hanging baskets, I would add something that trails and flowers. Ask your local nursery what they suggest, and what grows well in your area. Please let us know what you decide on? I would love to see pics later too... : )
Since the recommendation to add hanging plants was made, I would like to note that nasturtium should not be grown with tomatoes. It's noted in one of the links I gave. Newt
Thanks Hollyberry, I'll look out for aphids--I've stocked up on liquid soap for that purpose. (Not difficult as I make my own.)
Oh that's good lanarkcp. I make my own too, using dishsoap. Aphids and other bugs don't stand a chance! : )
