How to Grow Upside Down Tomatoes

How to Grow Upside Down Tomatoes

How to Grow Upside Down Tomatoes

Tomato plants can enrich a garden and serve as a source of fresh, delicious produce for the kitchen as well. This type of plant can be grown like any other, but doesn't have to be. Tomato plants can actually be grown effectively upside down as well as right side up.

There are some extra considerations to factor in when attempting to grow a tomato plant upside down. First and foremost is weight. The weight of the plant itself, as well as the tomatoes it produces and the water it requires, can put a strain on the container in which it is growing. It is therefore recommended that smaller varieties of tomato be grown upside down. Cherry to six-ounce tomatoes can be grown upside down, but a one-pound tomato may become too heavy for this technique.

To grow tomatoes upside down, first find a five-gallon (19 liter) container to serve as the "pot." These kinds of containers can be found at home improvement stores, often in the painting section. After acquiring a container, a hole will need to be cut in it for the plant to grow through. The size of this hole depends on what the tomato plant is sitting in. Some people like to grow them out of Styrofoam cups; in this case, the hole in the five-gallon container would be large enough for the cup. Others don't use any extra container; in this case, the hole is only an inch or two across.

Before continuing, it may be a good idea to reinforce the handle of the bucket. This helps it bear the weight of the plant as it grows. A bit of rope threaded through one side of the bucket and out of the other can do this job effectively.

Now the hole just cut in the container should be covered so the bucket can be filled with soil. Whatever type of soil is used, about two inches (five centimeters) of space should remain between the soil and lip of the bucket. Once the soil is in the container, place the lid securely over it and flip the entire thing over.

Next, it's time to actually plant the tomato. That little bit of space left in the container will come in handy here. Reach into the hole cut into the five-gallon container and dig a little using your fingers. This will create a space into which you can place the tomato plant. Try to get it as securely and deeply into the soil as possible. Make sure only the roots and stem are inside the container; no leaves should be inside the hole. Then you can add more soil to the container, filling up those last two inches.

Hang the bucket upside down from somewhere sturdy. The tomato plant should be hanging out of the bottom of the bucket. It is optional to leave the lid on the top of the bucket or remove it. Some like to remove it to allow rainwater to reach the plant. Others simply poke holes into the lid to allow the rain to get in.

After it is planted and hung, watering the tomato plant will be key. The plant cannot be allowed to dry out or it may die. The plant should be watered once or twice every day to ensure it doesn't dry out. The plant should also be fertilized every two weeks.

Plenty of water, keep moist but not wet. I'll bet you can almost taste that salad with those fresh, juicy tomatoes.

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