Using a technique I learned several years ago, this instructable shows how to make almost free hanging planters. I wanted to try the upside down technique for tomatoes that seem to be the rage this year. There are many instructables on this aspect, of course, so I decided to slant this tutorial in the direction of nearly free planters. I use small baskets here, but you can use the large clothes basket with a larger trash bag as a liner. Don't plan on hanging these. So for apartment dwellers, or anyone with limited space, you can have a garden with as many varieties of plants as you have room for.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Materials needed/used:
For the planters used in this instructable, I selected the white basket type that I purchased at the dollar store. Then I needed one plastic bag that we all have too many of, and a few pieces of chain, a few s hooks, and a chain link.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
Are you serious? This looks fantastic!!!
Maybe, instead of "sleeve protectors" for the stems, you could simply tie a guy line from the plant base to a stake below, so the plant wouldn't swing in the wind, torquing the stem until it broke. Dunno; maybe I'm not even understanding what happened.
1) When I chose to plant, and fertilize. I planted the upright plant, grown from seed, at 8-10 inches, rather than 3-4", which I think would have been preferable. I fertilized using an organic, foliar agent which tends to, if done at certain points in development, a lanky, long plant that is also top-heavy (kind of like a massive growth-spurt occuring in a wimpy plant, really). Had I chosen at that point to prune and shape the plant (to minimize the lankiness, and create a bushier plant), that would have been best.
2) The geography of my backyard probably has a LOT to do with it. Not only am I on a corner lot where both the north and south sides are openly exposed (due to where the houses on the side and in back of us are located) but due to the fact we live on the East Coast (Virginia Beach), we had to elevate our patio structure (which takes up 3/4 of my back yard) 4 feet to account for hitting water at 3 feet when putting in our pool and patio. This created not only a significant grade adjustment for the remaining part of our yard not covered by patio, but since our neighbors' yards and the street are upwards of 4 feet lower than ours, we are at the apex of the area, and I think the already strong wind-gusts we get (especially during the growing season, which just happens to also be during hurricane season) are amplified. We get pretty hefty winds, anyhow, being so close to the ocean. We've had issues with heavy patio furniture ending up in the pool (during "regular" storms), and the like. In fact, I don't know anyone who grows tomatoes without using a cage for support around here. And even though I hung my tomato plant against an 6 foot privacy fence facing south, it obviously wasn't enough shelter.
I DO love this project, and think that hanging the plant IS superior to ground-growing (at least in the way of avoiding ground-pests and animals), and I love your idea about the guy-line. I think when I plant again, I am going to combine your idea (and make it removeable, with a hook and ring contraption so that I can bring the plant inside for severe storms) with proper pruning, and the sleeve if needed. That ought to eliminate the problem--and if it doesn't, maybe I'm just not meant to grow tomatoes.