Tomato plant as a gift?

[Dangit]

I'm an obsessed tinkerer. I can't resist trying something once the idea gets into my head. 30 years as an engineer leaves a mark on your brain. So here's the latest.

We all know people who are hopelessly lost when it comes to gardening. Folks that generally don't know which end of a shovel to grab hold of. Great friends, and smarter than me in many ways, but should just stay indoors. Of coarse they love it when you bring them some tomatoes.

Well, this year my success (so far) with container gardening got me thinking about spreading the love a bit by making a 5 gallon SIP loaded with my special blend of soil, and a tomato plant. The idea is that if it grows and produces with NOTHING ADDED BUT WATER, then I could give these to my indoor friends with some hope of success.

To that end I have put one together with a bush early girl (determinate, grown from seed), and set it in the yard away from the garden. It gets nothing from me but water. A month later I have a very nice healthy looking plant with several blooms.

If this thing puts out a reasonable amount of fruit before the bugs and heat kills it I will consider it a go for next year as gifts.

Just futzin' as usual.

Dangit

[Kikaida]

Pretty cool, I think for almost guaranteed success before the plant gets annihilated...I'd entertain going with a cherry type. Mines have had the snot beat out of it with bugs and direct sunlight. So far its the only real producer as I have a bowl full in the fridge with another 40 or so to pick over the next couple of days. They don't get too big either.

[Dangit]

I'm open to different varieties. The main criteria being a compact bush type and a decent size, non paste fruit. I have never grown a bush early girl before, I just saw it in a catalog and decided to give it a shot. The earlier the fruit, the better chance of success before the inevitable demise of the plant. I know that the cherry types really put out, but I've never seen a compact cherry plant. The ones I've grown in the past have all been monsters.

Dangit

[pauldavid]

That would be a cool gift! You might help some of your friends become gardeners, you never know.

[habitat_gardener]

Based on my experience with nongardening friends, you'd also have to give them an app that reminds them to water!

There are a bunch of small-size plants that produce cherries. Some of them were developed for hanging baskets.

Great idea!

[seaeagle]

Just don't give your girlfriend a tomato plant as a gift, you might end up with a face full of compost

[Dangit]

I gave my wife a tool box full of tools for Xmas one year.

I didn't realize she could swear like that!!

Dangit

[TexasTycoon]

This sounds like a great gift, but don't be surprised if, despite your best efforts, most of your gifts end up biting the dust before producing. Some people just aren't gardeners, which is as baffling to me as people who hate cooking.

[Bipetual]

I hate to reveal the glass-mostly-empty side of my personality, but it sounds like an awful lot of work. People will forget to water it and it will die. If the person has any interest in plants or gardening, it would probably be fine. But if a person isn't invested, then I think you need to at least prepare yourself for the possibility of death. If you can live with that, then go for it!

[Mojave]

Wasn't Nebraska Wedding the original "gifted" tomato?

[Dangit]

It takes me about 1/2 hour to make one of these, and they need watering only once per week (so far this year).

If they die, they die. I'll take my bucket back and call it a lesson learned.

I'm not talking about a whole bunch of these, just 2 or 3 for now.

Dangit

[KarenO]

I think the best part of your gift is teaching somebody how to grow a tomato.
My daughter, on her first apartment balcony, is growing a pink passion dwarf tomato that I gave her in a pot with some basil and a petunia and it is doing beautifully. She is very proud of it and is quite determined to get some tomatoes of her own
The gift is more than the tomato you see
KarenO

[Bipetual]

Originally Posted by Dangit

If they die, they die. I'll take my bucket back and call it a lesson learned.


Dangit

I think that's exactly the right attitude! Good luck, and let us know how it goes if you decide to do it. I hope your friends prove me wrong.

[schill93]

Originally Posted by Dangit

It takes me about 1/2 hour to make one of these, and they need watering only once per week (so far this year).

If they die, they die. I'll take my bucket back and call it a lesson learned.

I'm not talking about a whole bunch of these, just 2 or 3 for now.

Dangit

I think it is a fantastic gift, and would be very much appreciated by even non-gardners. I think the thing holding most people back from trying to grow vegetables is the fear of not knowing anything. Your gift will be ready made, with instructions to get them on their way. I think most people like the idea of growing tomatoes and would like to, but are intimidated. Also, a lot of people don't know about SIP container gardens.

You know how successful those upside down hanging tomato pots were that they advertised on TV? Could only wish someone had given me such a gift.

I plan on purchasing an Earthbox with all the fixens for my sister for Christmas.
She doesn't know she wants it yet.

[luigiwu]

I did this last year, the fill hole aka pvc tube (to fill the bottom reservoir) was totally lost on them...
But a gift is a gift and always a great gesture if you can stand the probability of a poor outcome...