I'm currently growing vegetables in plastic pots on my patio since we're planning to overhaul our yard in the future. However, I'm having a tough time with my tomatoes. During thunderstorms, the intense winds cause them to tip over unless I pull them close to the house, which is exhausting given the frequent storms. I'm wondering if anyone has had success using different planters or containers for patio gardening. I'm considering buying some raised bed kits, but I'm worried they might elevate the tomatoes too much and risk breaking their stems in high winds. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Thanks for the suggestions! I've used tomato cages and tied them to bamboo poles before, and I've even tried weighing the pots down with bricks, but it didn’t help much. I appreciate your input!
Definitely make sure your tomatoes have cages or some other support like a Florida weave or cattle panel. The pots might be tipping because the plants become too heavy for the soil they’re in, especially when the leaves act like sails. Before a storm, I usually cluster my pots together against the house to support each other. If you want a more sturdy solution, consider getting larger, heavier pots with a wider base—they won't blow over easily!
You could try using bamboo poles for support. Just tie the plants to them, and it should help them stay upright during windy conditions!
A good idea is to bury your containers halfway into the soil to give them more stability against the wind. This can help even out temperature changes and reduce water loss. Plus, if the roots start to escape through the drainage holes, that could anchor them better! Just make sure to add some stakes or cages for extra support.
What size of pots are you using? I use 5-liter bags for my tomatoes and they hold up fine even in prairie winds.