[dsnrbec]

I have some heirloom tomato seeds which have been in my family for years and would like to try growing them on my birdcage. Has anyone been successful at container grown tomatoes on a birdcage (or any other veggies, for that matter)? I get good sunlight for most of the day but wasn't sure if the screening would make a difference.

[jblum8156]

I have used one of those upside-down tomato growers twice, once in NY and once here, and had plenty of beautiful tomatoes both summers. The only drawback is that you must water daily.

[Ohiogirl]

I think it's worth a try. Someone at Garden Club last week asked the reverse question - will the birdcage screening provide enough shade for Camellias? Answer was it helps some - and the sun is so bright down here I think you'll be fine - but you might have missed tomato season - I think I heard and am reading that tomatoes should be planted in late Sept/early October? Gets too cold in Jan/Feb and too hot if you wait until March.

[ladylake1]

First of all, I covet your heirloom seeds. I have sampled some of the tomatoes and I find they were better than others. I agree with Ohiogirl. Check out when planting season is as I tried regular tomatoes in the summer outside and they did not do well. Could have been the garden or maybe it was the gardener.

[obxgal]

From some of these articles, growing season is now and again in the fall.
I tried the first year I came down but got them in around June .. they did produce 2 or 3 tomatoes .. then baked. If I decide to do it again, I'll get them in earlier but keep them in the lania.

http://www.examiner.com/sustainable-...entral-florida
http://www.ehow.com/how_7555556_grow...l-florida.html
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes2.html

[KayakerNC]

Consider the Earthbox.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83lZGwRkNA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83lZGwRkNA[/ame]

[jblum8156]

I started tomatoes (in the upside down thing) in April and had loads of tomatoes through July and August, but my planter does not get full sun all day, just in the afternoon.

[tpop1]

I grew tomatos in a pot on my pool deck when we lived in Sarasota....grew some 44 day yielding ones which we picked while we were still there...and some 77 day ones that Ihad to transport back to Connecticut when we went back in May for the summer.

Both grew great & tasted great, although our pool cage had a screened top and got sun most of the day.

I remember reading that there are 3 tomato growing seasons here!

Go for it!!!