What a handsome dog!

Are any of your containers self watering?

Melissa

The containers are unfortunately not self-watering!

I live in an elevator building so it's not that tough to bring water up to my plants! Thanks for the compliments on the dog; he's the best. Bookmark the site or add it to your watch list, as I think this garden should turn out really well!

Hi - I'm growing a balcony garden. Yours looks great. I'm using earth boxes primarily this year and the rest in non self watering containers. If the sun would only shine. Also have 13 tomato plants.

Liz

Do you have a plan for when the tomatoes outgrow those small cages?

Linking to your blog is fine -- just no links to commercial sites that could be construed as advertising.

You're certainly doing your part to make a green roof. The Mayor would approve!

-- From a former (and sometimes homesick) Chicagoan

I'm not sure how I'll support the plants when the outgrow the cages. I've never done this before, so any suggestions are appreciated.

Would putting a tall stake in each container suffice?

You can add a stake and tie the plant to the stake.

Some people have added a second conical cage upside-down, fastening it to the first cage with zip-ties (cable-ties). So the widest ring at the top of the first cage is attached to the ring of the same size on the other cage, which apparently makes a secure support. An advantage of the conical cages is that they stack well (I'm assuming storage space is a consideration for you).

Some people make cages out of a circle of wire fencing or concrete reinforcing wire (CRW); usually those are supported with a stake -- but I don't grow tomatoes in containers, and I'm not sure what the recommended method is for supporting those cages. In any case, if you're buying fencing, keep in mind that you'll need holes large enough to reach in and pull out a tomato; some people use fencing with smaller holes, and cut a few wires to make some larger holes. And these cages usually take up a lot of storage space, though some people put together square cages made from 2 V's, fastened with zip-ties and then cut apart for winter storage.

Why not start a new thread and ask for input from other container growers?

I made a new thread, and I have a few ideas for supporting the tomatoes. I think I'm going to create a fence wall out of pvc and the same screen material that I used for my cucumber cage in the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: pictures