The plan is to put rocks in that tray below, drill holes in the bottom of the container, place some old window screening in the bottom, then garden soil (I don't have potting--is it vital?) and the tomatoes and basil. I'll then make some kind of frame that will both support the tomatoes and allow me to put more window screening over the whole shebang to keep out insects.

Another question: Bonnie Plants says to plant the tomatoes "deep, deep, deep!" But what if the plant already has tomatoes on it--as the Early Girl does?

I do worry about you putting Garden soil rather then potting soil, because potting soil is specifically made to hold up in a container, rather then compact excessively. I'm not sure if you can amend garden soil to make it container-approved, either.

In any container using a soil-less potting mix rather than garden soil/dirt is VERY vital. It is the single most important aspect of container gardening and will determine success or failure.

Ideally each plant would get its own container - they have different nutrient and water needs - for best results. But you could put both those tomato varieties in the same container and the basil in a separate one IF you use a proper container mix and if you understand that the container will require weekly feeding and very careful monitoring of the soil moisture levels. You will likely be watering daily or 2x daily in mid-summer. Skip the rocks, they serve no purpose.

You really need to do some reading over on the Container Gardening forum here for best results because growing in containers is a unique form of gardening with its own set of rules and restrictions.

Dave.

I'll go get a potting mix! :-) And since I've got the pots, I'll go ahead and separate them. Think one tomato with a basil plant would be okay or still not?

I'm just reading about the EarthTrainer system at TomatoFest.com--sounds right up my alley!

Space-wise, sure you could put the basil with the Patio plant but herbs don't tolerate all the fertilizer you will be giving the tomato plant all that well and herbs don't like nearly the amount of water the tomato plant will need either. Actually the basil will probably get bigger than the Patio tomato plant since Sweet Basil can easily get 3-4' tall. The Early Girl Bush will be the biggest plant.

Again, the Container Gardening forum better discusses the issue of the rocks and the screening but briefly, most container growers would never do either. They prefer that the container be able to wick the water in the tray back up into the soil. If the rocks and screening are there it won't be able to do that. Your choice.

Dave

I also put a basil in its own pot that I will keep between the two tomatoes.

I'm worn out just from that effort so will try to figure out a support system/insect netting later. (With an autoimmune disease, I can't take much heat and sun, but I try to do a little gardening to keep active.)

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Oh by the way, has anyone done the method that someone over at container gardening (bitzppa) does of wrapping each tomato fruit in a bag to keep off insects? He said "frost mat" but I don't know what that is.