The planter or bag hangs from a hook just like any other hanging container. Some upside down tomato growing systems use bags as the growing container; others use common plastic planters. You can also make your own simple upside down tomato planter by drilling a hole in a bucket, filling it with potting soil, planting a tomato plant through the bottom, and hanging the planter. The theory behind growing tomatoes upside down The brains behind upside down tomato planters claim these containers use gravity as a vertical growing advantage.
Water is poured into the top of the bag or planter. Gravity pulls the water and nutrients directly to the roots. Proponents also argue that bag-style versions heat the tomato plant as a greenhouse does, allowing the root system to expand. Advantages Advocates cite these advantages to growing tomatoes upside down.
Upside down planters save space. People who live in small homes or apartments, as well as those with plenty of yard space, can grow tomatoes in upside down planters, which can be hung in balconies, on porches, and in car ports. Upside down planters eliminate the need for staking. Plants hang. Larger, indeterminate tomato varieties grown in upside down planters may need to be trimmed. Upside down planters reduce soil-borne problems. Hanging plants have less to no contact with the soil, which means slugs, other soil-borne pests and soil-borne diseases have less opportunity to act.
Upside down planters are less work to set up. Planting and maintaining a hanging planter is a lot easier than cultivating and looking after a garden plot — even when you must post brackets or hooks from which to hang them. Upside down planters have fewer weeds. Upside down planters allow for better circulation. Since the tomato plant is suspended, air can move freely around branches, helping prevent fungi and allowing more opportunity for pollination.
Upside down planters are movable. You can place a planter where it will get direct sunlight. If the forecast is for cold temperatures, you can move the planter inside overnight. If summer days are too long and too hot, you can move it into the shade for awhile.
Upside down planters eliminate gardening messiness. Upside down planters are versatile. Herbs, flowers, and other kinds of vegetables can be grown in an upside down container. Auxins hormones produced in the growing tips turn stem growth upwards. When tomato plants are hung, new stem growth makes a U-turn upwards. The new growth will make another U-turn upward. Many on-line comments about hanging tomatoes talk about wind damage.
Upside down planters can weigh 50 pounds when they are filled with damp soil and a large tomato plant. This creates a challenge to make sure all of the hardware is strong enough to hold the weight. Some advertisements for upside down tomatoes suggest that they be hung from a balcony or deck. Trees, roofed decks, and nearby houses cast shade and tomatoes need full sun for good fruit production. The planter itself can block the sun and shade the tomato when it is a young plant.
Not every variety of tomato will thrive growing upside down. Definitely also recommend somehow making the soil container opaque, in order to prevent algaenation in the soil. This will help to prevent water evaporation on hot days, and will thereby not only reduce the amount of watering you need to do, but also help ensure the plant stays healthy microbially and otherwise. Last thought: not all plants like to be upside down, obviously. It probably goes without saying that some plants will do better than others this way.
Thanks for this great idea! My herbs have been struggling to get enough sunlight - they've shared a square ceramic box with a mint plant, and my basil has been smothered to the point where they've began to die off. Now with this, they'll get enough sun and water. Thanks again! Reply 10 years ago on Introduction.
Mint is a very aggressive plant, it will take over your whole garden if you let it! Keep mint seperate in a container, your other plants will thank you!
Very interresting. But I do have a question, Instead of pop bottles could I use kitty litter jugs? They are about 14 lbs so 8in x 18in x 12in in size.
By DebH57 Follow. More by the author:. About: I am 51 and hail from sunny Southern California but originate from back east. Cut a few slits in the portion of tape above the bottle and fold it to the inside of the bottle.
Punch four holes in your bottle as close to the center of the duct tape as possible. Add whatever you choose to use for hanging your planter through the holes made in the Duct Tape. Did you make this project? Share it with us! I Made It! A Literal Handbag by Tatterhood in Halloween.
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