how to plant hanging upsidedown tomatoes

Step 9: Be sure to water.

Water your tomato plants every day as they will dry out faster. I placed 3 of mine near the front door so I will see them and remember.

Comments

[luv2homestead]

I was wondering if you ended up having enough dirt for roots in the end. What size hanging planter did you use? What is the purpose of planting the peas - what is the benefit to the tomato plants? Thanks!

[zoe_roses]

The peas were to help keep the water from evaporating, and to help produce somehting faster fromt eh basket, the peas died due to heat before the tomato plants started producing. There was enough soil, but it was hard to keep the soil moist enough. I live in Texas, where it is very hot in the summer.

[JediPenguin]

The peas are what are called nitrogen fixers. Basically, the provide fertilizer for the tomatoes.

[hishealer]

I think I'll do this with basil plants on top. They do add to the taste of the tomatoes and both take the same fertilizer.

[oldandintheway]

I think a mini herb garden on top sounds good.

[rilkeanheart]

That's what we did with our upside down tomato basket. In the first few weeks the herbs fleshed out great and filled the basket on top helping to retain the moisture in the soil and the tomato grew well too until the "vacation drought of '06" wiped them out. We had to be away for a week and my plants suffered badly from no water. (couldn't find a plant sitter). We have now invested in a drip system but have yet to try the upside down plants again.

[rilkeanheart]

My basket from '06.

[aborrello]

I think yours are the best looking of all the methods I have looked at. I am trying this out for the first time and did not like the looks of the commercial planters. Yours are very decorative! Thank you very much for the information and pics!

[jennsaid]

I have tried this and it works well. It also works with bell peppers.

[itsalladream]

Could this put excessive strain on the base of the plant when it starts to fruit, as the plant will grow upwards? Perhaps you would need to use some sort of stake, or prop, to support them, as you would with the conventional method of growing them.

[chickawoman]

Thats what is happening to mine already. They seem to have a "mind" of their own and insist on growing right-side up. What gives? Bad tomato plants...

[itsalladream]

All plants will grow towards the sun, thus, they are supposed to do that.

[ezchuck]

I have a 5 gallon bucket with a tomato plant in it. It does not seem to be doing so well, I water it and hve it in mirical grow potting mix, and on my patio where it gets sun. The only thing I did not do is to build up the root ball from the bottom of the bucket. Should I give more time?

[thelunatick1]

I had a similar issue last season. trying to keep watering is so critical, especially as it begins to bear fruit. I would get black spots on the tomatos. These from either: 1. lack of watering (timely) and the plant feeding off the fruit 2. over watering Most for purchase ones I have looked at includes some sort of reservoir at the top of the bucket. I would like to find a DYI solution for this. The other is to add something like Soil Moist to balance out the soil conditions between waterings. I tried to just stick in 20oz soda bottles. but it didn't alway leech readily enough. These were e

[WileECoyote]

Black spots on the tomatoes could be blossom end rot and it is due to a calcium deficiency. It usually occurs from sporadic watering, the plant drying out and then getting soaked. It can be treated with a calcium spray or even a milk spray (google for more info), you can also try to prevent it by adding crushed egg shells to the soil.

[gowithflo]

make sure your bucket has holes, dont over water, I would add compost preferably vermi compost, maybe just as a top dressing (then your rootball would have more room too). Hard to say w/out seeing your plant. good luck

[LadyHvnly]

by growing upside down, are the worms less likely to plant themselves on the plant? THE HORN WORMS ATE MINE LAST YEAR!! the ate it overnite!!! i really like your description and instructions.. will give it a shot this year along with my square foot gardening also.. which i love doing.. any updated pics?

[annihando]

Can I plant on the top like a flower or something for color? I'm going to get this ready now and my husband is so excited. This beats ordering somehting for 9.99 or 19.95.

[yokozuna]

I too would like to see a couple of updated pics with the plant hanging. I think it would help you get more visitors if you updated the main image to include the plant and not just the finished product.

[halolord]

Just wondering Would the plant get enough sunlight. Wouldn't the basket over shade it?

[kagera]

It would be very easy to set this up to self water. all you would really need is a container for water, a pump and tubes, and i timer. I plan to do just that when try this this this spring!

[soul_jahz_united]

yea i agree, wtf? send some updates meng

[Keyth]

I have a question: How heavy do these things get? Thanks.

[wocket]

Cool idea. I'd love to see some update pics when they get growing!

[tallchick0]

Could you grow cucumbers by the same method?

[Vtraven]

Wow, this looks so easy and fun! Can't wait to get started. Thank you.

[miah]

This looks cool and easy. I'm looking to start a garden at my house and don't have alot of sunlit area's on the ground, but can probably grow some tomatoes with this method. Thanks!