What Are Upside Down Tomato Plants?
Upside down tomato plants..?
What a bizarre idea you might ask. Well, exactly as the name implies, upside down tomato plants are tomato plants that are grown upside down. People also refer to this method of growing as upside tomato plants. Exactly how long this method of growing tomatoes has been in existence is uncertain, but probably for many years. Over that time, growing methods have been refined, and now you may be surprised to hear how relatively inexpensive it is to setup this system. The benefits are very tempting indeed.
There is a variety of upside down planters available for purchase these days, for varying prices. But you can simply make your own if you like. Smaller varieties of tomato plants, or ones that are suitable in pots are preferred for growing them upside down.
BENEFITS
Improved air circulation is a major benefit of this method, which will result in LOWERED disease and fungus problems. Your tomatoes will be less likely to rot as they will not become as wet as if they were on the ground. The plants may also produce better because of lower stress levels. All of these result in a better, bigger harvest of delicious tomatoes.
HOW TO
The actual method of creating an upside down tomato hanger is fairly straight forward and you will only need a little equipment. There is a lot of information around on using 5 gallon buckets, and this, by far, is the most common method. Some people, such as myself, prefer to use other containers, like a hanging basket for instance. You also have the option of decorating your bucket to create a more pleasing eye piece. But whatever you choose to use, the main criteria you will need for your container is a good strong handle to bear the weight of a fruiting tomato plant.
Once you have chosen your container you will want to make one hole in the bottom and one hole in the top (lid), roughly two inches (5cms) in diameter. One is for air flow and your tomato plant will grow out of the other one. At the bottom of the container, layer some fabric down, to cover the hole. A coffee filter will also work well for this. Fill your container with appropriate soil for your tomatoes, which is generally a loosely packed soil to allow for ample drainage. Apply another layer of fabric, or coffee filter, on top of the soil, put the lid back on, and then turn the container over so the bottom is facing up. Make a slit in the fabric, for this is where we are going to plant our seedling. Give your seedling some good depth to allow it to take root and spread within the soil. Let your plant grow to about a foot, then you are ready to turn it upside down and hang it on a support. Hang your bucket somewhere that gets a lot of sun.
At first your tomato plants will grow up towards the light, so make sure they grow to the side of the container and not up into it. Once they bear more foliage and weight, they will hang down of their own accord. Keep an eye on the level of the soil and top up if required.
Your climate will determine the amount of water you give your tomato plants, just bear in mind that they prefer a dryer soil, so be sure to not over water them! Your upside down tomato plant will not need as much water as one planted in the ground because the soil will not drain as much. You may want to add fertilizer to your soil periodically, which can be done by simply removing the lid and placing onto the soil.
Planting upside down tomato plants is fun and a worthwhile endeavor. As well as being something a little unique, you will actually receive great benefits from planting your tomatoes upside down. I highly recommend giving it a try!
