Container gardening is truly a magical way to grow fruits, veggies, and herbs in your home, no matter whether you’ve got an acre, a porch, or just a sunny window! One of my favorite combos for a hanging basket is growing tomatoes out of the bottom of the basket, while growing fresh basil out of the top! Just add mozzarella and olive oil, and you’re set for a delicious caprese salad!
It’s a really easy project, and you can either purchase starts for your tomatoes and basil, or start them from seeds.
For the basket, I use a wire one that includes a nice-sized hole in the center of the bottom of the basket. Then I add a coconut liner to the basket, to which I’ve cut a small hole in the center** of it, allowing me to invert my small tomato start upside down in the basket, with the greenery hanging out the bottom, and the roots facing the top! Add a nice veggie soil to secure the tomato plant in place, then add 3 small basil starts (or however many feel like a comfortable amount to grow abundantly, but not be too overcrowded.)
Water, and hang in a sunny location. This container settles in quickly, and can be a robust producer of summer herbs and fruit. With regular watering and sunshine, soon you’ll be flush with fresh basil leaves and some lovely tomatoes for those summer salads. Mangia and enjoy!
** How to cut the hold in the center of the coconut liner easily? Fold your coconut liner in half, then in half again. Take your scissors, and clip a tiny triangle out of the point. When you unfold the liner, you will have a tiny circle in it. Now, take your fingers, and stick them in the hole, stretching them until the hole is large enough to stick your leaves/stalk through, but not so large that the tomato start and soil fall through the hole. I usually can fit my three middle fingers through the hole, which looks small, but will be more than enough to get the tomato plant through safely, without squishing or damaging the stalk.