Growing Upside Down Tomatoes appeals to me as a crazy idea. But how crazy is it and does it work?

I first came across the idea of growing tomatoes upside down while watching a TV show article about commercial greenhouses. They were growing tomatoes not only upside down but using hydroponics.

Having grown tomatoes in grow bags for years I thought a little more research was needed on the idea of growing tomato plants the wrong way round.

The idea behind growing any plant upside down is to eliminate the hassles of weeding, pests, digging, staking out and using tomato cages. The other advantages being not having to bend over to water, tend and harvest.

There seem to be a variety of commercial products available to help you invert tomatoes. However I prefer a more homemade solution, particularly as the available products seem to look homemade!

Two different solutions seem to exist either using a modified hanging basket or a modified plastic container (often with a lid). Both solutions allow you to grow other plants on the top surface which can improve the look or add another crop. Great use of space!

In both cases a hole needs to be created in the “bottom” of the hanging container. Inside the hole use a fibre mat which a slit cut in it to allow the seedling to be planted through but maximising your chance of keeping the soil in the correct place.

Remember in doing this yourself that you need to leave hanging room for the plant and to allow for the weight of the grown plant and crop. There will be more soul destroying than having the whole lot come crashing down ruining weeks of loving care.

Growing upside down is going to put a large amount of stress on the plant which will still be trying to do what comes naturally. You need to grow the plant right side up until it reaches 10 inches above the container. Having a lid helps during this stage to keep the soil together.

Hang your bucket in a protected sunny area and water. And watch your upside down tomatoes grow.

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How to plant upside down tomatoes

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1. http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/1620-How-To-Make-An-Upside-Down-Tomato-Planter

Basic photos uses a hanging basket.

2. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Inverted-Hanging-Tomato-Planter

Uses plastic bags and newspaper along with your iron to create a basket… sounds messy

3. http://www.howdididoit.com/home-garden/how-to-grow-hanging-tomato-plants/

Good description plus pictures of the end results - uses 5 gallon bucket

4. http://urbangardencasual.com/2008/05/27/upside-down-tomatoes - good instructions on using 5 gallon bucket

 I’ll add to this list again tomorrow

Some people have used indeterminate tomato varieties in inverted growing but it requires carefully pruning.

Some determinate tomatoes varieties that have worked for others include Tomato tumbling tom red or yellow, tomato tumbler, tomato yellow pigmy and tomato garden pearl. If you can grown any other varieties upside down please let us know in the comments below.

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The other half of the story - how to make and fill a home made planter.

The upside down planter can also be used for peppers, cucumber, and some squash.

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