1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
|
If you've ever been up late watching TV in the wee hours of the morning you've probably noticed those ads for upside down tomato planters. You've probably even asked yourself why anyone would want to grow tomatoes (or anything else) upside down. You obviously do not live in an apartment.
However, while space is probably the most common motivator for upside down planting -- look ma, no ground necessary -- there are actually some other good reasons to consider growing upside down tomato plants even if you do have the space to plow.
# No need to stake -- gravity takes care of the vines so you don't need to and that's one less thing to worry about
# No weeding -- well, technically you can get weeds in the top of the bucket, especially if you don't put a lid on it, but it'll still be nothing compared to a traditional garden.
# Fewer soil diseases/root rot -- Because you'll be using bagged soil and (most likely) changing it every year you don't really need to worry about disease.
# Better air circulation -- related to both of the above, hanging plants get better air circulation with means better pollination and overall healthier plants.
Sold? Well, hand on a minute, there are a couple of disadvantages as well. The biggest problem with upside down plants is heat. The soil is not insulated so heat will dry it out much, much faster than it would in a ground. That means more water and more diligence on your part. Another problem is weight -- especially after watering. Make sure you hang your plants somewhere secure that can handle the weight.
If those worries don't put your off then read on to learn how to go about setting up your own hanging tomato garden.
== The DIY method ==
Forget late night 800 numbers, all you need to grow upside down tomatoes is a 5 gallon bucket or similar container (empty 5 gallon water bottles work well if you cut off the bottom). Grab a cheap paint bucket from the hardware store and use a drill to cut a small hole in the bottom of the bucket. You want to hole to be big enough to fit the root ball of your tomato, but not so big that the plant falls out before it has a change to root itself inside -- about the size of a half dollar is generally good (and now your bucket has a hole in it, no need to check, it's there).
Now you need a tomato plant. There are several hybrid varieties that claim to be "perfect" for upside down planters, but if you can't find any at your local dealer just grab a traditional plant. We recommend cherry tomatoes or other smaller sizes -- avoid really large heirlooms as they tend not to do well in buckets.
Now gently shake the dirt from your plant's roots and carefully insert it through the hole you cut in your bucket. Wrap the roots in some Sphagnum Moss or similar dry insulating material (shredded newspaper works as well). You want about two inches of moss around the base of the plant.
Holding the plant in place, start to fill your bucket with potting soil. Once you've got the root ball covered you should be able to let go of the plant and it will stay put. Continue filling the bucket with soil and compost if you have any. Fill the bucket to the top, leaving about an inch of space so you won't lose any soil when you water.
Now hang your bucket up and give it a good soaking. Wait an hour or so and then check to see how much the soil settled (this will depend on the nature of the soil mix you used). If necessary, add a little more soil.
And that's all there is to it really, just remember that you'll need to water your upside down plants far more than you would a traditional garden.
Tomatoes aren't the only thing you can grow upside down either -- peppers do well in this set up, as do cucumbers, eggplants and some beans.
|
