How To Grow Tomatoes


How To Grow Upside Down Tomatoes

Why not try something unique this year? Grow upside down tomatoes. Growing tomatoes upside may seem like a strange idea, but there are a few advantages to it.

Aside from it's uniqueness and ornamental value some other advantages to growing tomatoes this way are:

  • There's no need for stakes or cages.
  • Less incidence of damage from pests.
  • It frees up garden space for other plants.
  • No weeding.

What is an upside down tomato?

Don't confuse upside down tomatoes with putting your plants in hanging baskets and allowing the forage to hang over the sides.

An upside down tomato is actually upside down with the roots on top and the forage hanging underneath.

Preparing the containers for your upside down tomatoes

All but the smallest varieties of tomatoes such as the "Tiny Tim" will need a large container.

Your container will need a lid, and a handle that's strong enough to support the weight of the plant along with the soil. A 5 gallon pail works great for this purpose.

You will need a two inch hole in the bottom of your container for your tomato to hang through, and another in the lid for watering. A circular saw works great for this.

You don't want your soil to fall out of your container, so cover the hole in the bottom of your container with something like a coffee filter. Then fill the container with your potting soil.

You will be turning your container upside down, so you will need to place a coffee filter on top of the soil to prevent it from spilling out of the hole you cut in the lid.

Ensure your lid is on securely, turn your container over and cut a small slit in the coffee filter you placed over the hole in the bottom.

Plant and then hang your upside down tomatoes

You are going to plant your tomato seedling in the hole you cut in the bottom of the pail, so use your finger to work away enough soil to accommodate the roots and most of the stem.

You are going to plant your seedling in the hole at the bottom of your container. Be careful you don't damage the roots or stem and gently work the roots through the hole until you have all the roots and a good portion of the stem inside. Then pack soil around your roots and stem to hold it firmly in place.

At this stage your tomato plant hasn't got enough roots to keep it from falling out if you hang it upside down. You can either secure the plant yourself, or you can give it a couple of weeks to grow more roots before hanging it.

Give it a try, and next year your friends will be asking you how to grow upside down tomatoes.

Find out more about how to grow upside down tomatoes here



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