How To Grow Upside Down Tomatoes - -

UPDATE: This article shows the original method to grow upside down tomatoes. Another method, which eliminates some problems with the original method, has recently become popular. See the bottom section of the article for the "update" at the end of this article.

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One of the latest crazes in home gardening is growing upside down Tomatoes. Does this really work? Why upside down? Here is all you need to know to grow upside down tomatoes.

There does appear to be some advantages to growing the suspended tomatoes. However, there are also some drawbacks.

First, being away from the ground, there is less chance of pests invading your tomatoes. Unless they can fly, they can not reach the tomatoes. And most tomato pest are ground crawlers.

Second, being suspended, the tomatoes are easier to find in the foliage and to pick.

As mentioned above, there are also disadvantages but, first, let's see how to do it.

You can buy a complete, ready-to-go kit with all you need for about $15-$29. If you want to buy, just search the web for "upside down tomatoes". If you want to make your own, here's how.

You'll need some containers. You can use almost any type container but the best is any used 5 gallon plastic buckets with a handle.

Turn your bucket (or other container) upside down and cut out a 2-3 inch circular hole in the center of the bottom of the bucket. If you use plastic, this can be done with a drill or a sharp kitchen knife.

Holding the bucket right side up, thread tomato plant leaves and steam through the hole you made in the bottom of the bucket, leaving root ball inside the bucket. Wrap several layers of newspaper around stem and root ball to prevent plant from falling through hole. Then fill bucket with soil up to within 1 inch of top.

Hang the bucket with it's handle on a nail in a sunny location. Water and fertilize as needed. Check the soil level, periodically, to make sure it does not settle down more than 2 inches from top of bucket. Add soil as needed.

Suspended tomatoes will tend to grow upwards toward the sun, until they begin developing fruit, so check daily to make sure the stem is growing out of the bucket and not back into it.

This whole process can be done in about 15 minutes and cost nothing if you have access to some used buckets.

Disadvantages.
We found that the upside down tomatoes dry out very fast. They must be watered every day...sometimes twice a day. Second, we did not get the quantity or size tomatoes as in-ground tomatoes. Perhaps you will have better luck but our opinion is that upside down tomatoes should be grown as a novelty and to see the look on your neighbor's face, but not as a substitute for in-ground plants to put a wealth of tomatoes on your table. This is not to discourage you, they are a lot of fun. So, give it a try.

UPDATE:

Here is another method to make your own upside down tomatoes that solves some of the problems with the original method. The original required cutting a hole in the bottom of the bucket. Then you would feed the tomato plant through the bottom hole. The open hole in the bottom of the bucket caused the water to drain very fast resulting in a plant that dried out rapidly.

The new method grows the plants through holes cut in the side of the bucket. The bottom of the bucket is kept intact, except for small drainage holes, thus solving the problem of the plants drying out too fast.

Here's how to do it.

First you will need a plastic bucket with a lid and a handle. A 5 gallon bucket is recommended. One of the best is a 5 gallon plastic, cat litter bucket. They come with a lid and handle and are made of thin plastic that is easy to cut.

Step 1: Cut 4, two inch diameter holes, spaced evenly, in the lid of the bucket.






Step 2: Cut two 4 inch diameter holes on opposite sides of the bucket about mid-way down from the top rim of the bucket.

Step 2a:Use 4 or 5 thicknesses of paper to pad the bottom rim of the holes so the sharp edges do not cut into the tomato plant stems. Tape in place.






Step 3: Puncture three drainage holes in bottom of bucket with tip of small knife.


Step 4: Fill bucket to bottom of side holes with planting mix.

Step 5: Lay tomato plants on dirt inside bucket and guide top of plants through the holes on each side of bucket.


Step 6: Fill remainder of bucket with planting mix to within 2 inches of top rim of bucket.

Step 7: Place lid on bucket.

Using bucket handle, hang bucket so bottom of bucket is at least 4 feet above ground surface. Water from top of bucket allowing water to run through holes in lid of bucket.

The plants will grow up toward the sun at first. Then as the limbs grow larger and have the weight of tomatoes on them, the plants will hang down toward the ground.

Check the soil moisture every day for the first week. Do not allow the plants to dry out but, at the same time, do not allow the roots to sit in soggy soil for extended time. After the first week you will be able to judge how often to water by observing how well the bucket drains and how well the soil retains moisture.

Be sure to locate the bucket in your garden where the tomatoes will get full sun, all day if possible.