Today my grandsons and I followed directions in planting upside down tomato plants Here we are doing it step by step I hope this isn't too many pic but there were a few people on here wanting to know what and how to do,, So here is mine pretty much documented for my own sake as well. I will divide this among a few post(s) I'm not sure the amount allowed per post

Starting with the bucket andcoffee filter or paper insert (to prevent soil from falling out)
I used a small paper plate.

now we inserted the plant into the paper plate then into the bucket hole being tender as to not tear the leaves

Next "lift the plant up" and place soil between root ball and bottom of bucket so the stem is inside the bucket and only the leaves show thru as you fill the bucket with a composted soil mix




I then planted impatients seeds on top of soil, but you can plant herbs or already starter plants, provided the roots of whatever you put on top will not take over the bucket needed for tomato roots. this is an option you can also put the lid back on top back on top loosely fitted .

Well I under estimated the weight of the buckets Filled!! :rolleyes: I had to run to Home depot and purchase a 2 sides(lshaped) steel bacing rod to help support the shephards hook ccuz' it Leeeaned waaay back when I first put the buckets up!




Here's hoping for good romas this season!!!

that is great! thanks for sharing all of that! I am soooo excited to do this this year! I think I'll plant marigolds in the top keep us updated on the growing process!

nice explanation and pic's, thanks!

I saw a picture of the up-side-down Tomato in a Gardening magazine recently, & wondered how they really did that!

Thanks HEAPS, Angelblossom!

(Excellent photo illustration - Job well done!)

Ditto on all the above response's there Diane
and Grandsons!!!!
AWESOME JOB..
Great photo's, good documentary and everything looks realllllllly good!!!

I GOT REALLLLLLLLY EXCITED OVER THAT WHEELBARROW FULL OF COMPOSTED SOIL....

I can not wait to see the progression on this post..
THANK~YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!

*are your grandsons real budding gardeners...
or a reluctant ones??*
It's good to get them interested early if they are willing...

Is it essential to use a determinate tomato variety, so they won't get too big?
Great info and pics!

Weezie.>>are your grandsons real budding gardeners...
or a reluctant ones??*
Weezie the older one is very interested, the younger one can take it or leave it unless I appoint one or two plants specifically 'his' then and only then will he claim it and is interested in taking care of it!LOL
Is it essential to use a determinate tomato variety, so they won't get too big?

Yes too big and too dense of tomatoes or any large producing fruit will break the branches And I wish I would have hung them higher it may reach the ground but one can put a tomato cage under the buckets to help support the branches as it grows: banana peppers , strawberries, and smaller fruiting plants are even better.

Oh yes one more thing I forgot to mention,, as the plant grows it will try to "turn up" towards the sun a site on net suggested using 'Fishing sinkers' to temporailey put on branches to keep growing in a downward position untill the length is such that the bucket doesn't 'shadow the leaves.


I'm just praying it takes hold,grows and produces!! I will post more as it progresses.

GREAT JOB, angelblossom! I've heard of this and was interested because I thought it would eliminate any weed problems. I just wasn't sure of how to go about it, but now I know! Thanks!!!

patches

This is just food for thought Diane,
but have you ever seen those pulley systems
for people that want to put house plants on their porch??

and theres a string attached, they pull it,
the plant comes down to water, and then back up..

Would you have an area, that would get enough sun, and to be able to attach a pulley to something to get it up higher???????

Just an idea..
if you wanted it up higher and had a place to do it...

My little one's are the same way,
The oldest has "his" plants, different colored peppers!
The youngest loves to dig, and dig, and dig..
but I don't need the holes THAT DEEP, I tell him..
hate to not encourage him, but wow~zerzzzzzzzzz,
I could see China if I let him go...

Patches: It was very easy to thread the leaves thru the hole and I don't see why you couldn't
cut the circle and slit open one side of filter or paper however you's still have to thread it thru the bucket and you can't split that I just held the leave together stuck it thru as my oldest GS, gentle pulled from the other side this was our first time but it really was quit easy. you don't have to use paper plate or filter spagnum peat moss or anything that will prevent soil from falling out will work .

2. What kind of metal sifter do you have in your wheelbarrow, and where did you get it?

I looked and looked for something to sift compost with I finally went to a resturant supply store and bought a huge deep fat fryer basket ($16.00) LOL I liked the fact that it has a long handle tho it has larger holes then I'd like. I also bought a larger screened mesh cornmeal sifter but if the compost is moist it just "mats' on the screen so I kinda gave up on that unless the compost is completley dry.

BTW I was too lazy to make my own sifter
:rolleyes: .

weezie I have seen the pully system but I don't have anywhere that would work for me,, however I really did think about drilling a hammock hook into the roofing ledge and hooking it up there, I could have still water it easy enough but DH wanted to wait... as this was another one of my "Experiments" :rolleyes: and if it proves successful then next season he would place heavy gauged hooks in the support ledges of roof

Tell DH, I applaud him for at least helping in your experiments...
That's half the battle when you can get them to co~operate...

I think that pulley system would work, and would
realllllly give you that height you need..

Njoynit in Texas did the hang~up~side~down Tomatoes' too!!!!

Another thought on the slit in the plate, you could use 2 plates and offset the slits on opposite sides.

I will be watching this topic!!!

Angelblossum, I like the idea of using spagnum peat moss better than the paper plate.

patches

For me, I'd throw the worm castings
right in as I'm sifting the compost....
That way i'ts evenly spread inside all the dirt.

patches Yep- that's it! I think mine is a little bigger in diameter but it works! LOL

I was even thinking of using a couple of old tomato cages for some starter vining plants I have because right now I can't afford to buy 3 trellis. plus it will give it a shape. Funny how us gardeners and improvise with things around the house

Diane

Here's my sifter.....

Can't see the holes in it, but that's how big the sifter is...
I like it that big, I can shovel big shovels full into it, and use the big shovel to rake it back and forth a bit... then get out my trowel, and rake it back and forth....

Weezie, I'm not going to put my worm castings in with my compost. I want to use the dry fry basket to separate the worms from the castings like they did at the worm farm. I want to keep the castings for special things like planting in containers.

I am planning on building something like you have to sift my regular compost.

patches

Diane, considering what I'm using the fry basket for I don't think I would want anything that was bigger, so this should be fine.

It's probably not a coincidence that us gardeners can improvise with things around the house. It's actually a necessity since we spend so much money on all our plants and other garden needs.

patches

patches: that's soo true mine is bigger but it also makes it heavier I have found to fill it half full for me makes it a little easier on my arms to sift Oh how very well I know about spending $ on plants and garden needs I'm kinda like a shopaholic when it comes to plants My DH started to get irritated at all the $ spent so I ration my gasoline to give me 20 Xtr $ a week for my garden(s) I sometimes leave things at work and bring it in slowly and blend it in nicely so he doesn't notice ... too much

hello angle,

i was in awe when i read your super posts and pix about those tomatoes,you reeeeealy made me want to do the same,i m so looking forward to the continuity of it all..tell your grandsons they did a good job helping....i m so looking forward to do the same...only one difference....SNOW<GRRR....you re so lucky to live in tx.

have a good day/bonne journee !!

Franny.

I used a 4 gallon bucket& my holes were in the sides as well and planted the top as well.Yes they are heavy....foam peanuts helps.I did celebirty my 1st one w marigolds..Early girl my 2nd time with marigolds tangerine& this year doing cherry tomatoes with banana peppers& contemplateing adding parsely& basil.I may hang from a tree.

Njoynit: Did you find you had to water it more as oppossed to being in the ground ? Should I have put holes in the sides as well? About the peanuts did you just mix them in with the soil? I have one more I can do maybe I'll change it up with the third one!!?

I didn't find my peanuts that day(nor have I till this day...lol) My very 1st unpictured one was a regular hanging basket with the bottom saucer removed and 2 plants grown out bottom topped by marigolds.It may have needed watering more due to 1# my 1st Tx summer since was 14-16 which was coastal.Corpus Christi was totally diffeent up in Whitehouse,not to mention was my hottest summer ever(I enjoyed a day of 121 and the heat index was around 140+..........)2# soil type DOES matter.


peanuts reduce the weight of the pot....when ya got um.I currently have my 1 hanger low to ground for now& still looking for a home hanging spot.I sunk a qt pot in the center this way water will stay to the sides then fill the bottom plus water INTO the inner pot will drain below into soil drenching the roots of all plants.....hopefully.


I've got the picture.I've just not sat down long enough to unload them.plus I went to Brooks& Dunn& seen the rodeo& took 118 pictures while there(and wished could have gone back today....plant sale in the carnival area CASH& CARRY )

I been weeding.they pull easy after raining & my ducks are annoying me cause Tex won't accept my new duckies...not even after I yelled at him that I'd cook his A$$! I can;t belive my duck is going to make MORE work for me!It looks like I'll have to divide their area & buy ANOTHER roll for $20 plus some posts.I guess hubby broke me from buying more ducks huh..lol

I have a trash bag full of peanuts I'll use some of those the next one Whew yes it's IS heavy after this rain we've had the last two days my shepard hook bend over from the weight I had to straighten it and move it back toward the fence and use the steel post support for the fence and roped it on to there so next rain it will be alot sturdier!!

Sounds like Tex doesn't relish the idea of 'sharing' you!LOL and knows all to well your idle threats of cooking him!LOL

He looked at me like I wouldn't dare.

says Tex!

or would she?

<center" "</center>


There she is!I have 3 of these stands,but this is the only sturdy one.I'm going to secure the taller one(6 ft) and hang on it.I tried asking about screwing it to deck& got such a nasty look....I did not repeat the question.


planter has 4 cherry tomato plants 4 banana peppers,marigolds as they sprout.nasturiums.1 tomato out of bottom 2 tomato 2 peppers on side 1 tomato 2 peppers on top.I think i've popped 4 marigolds 3 on side 1 on top.I have a qt container in middle and its got the nasturuims& a marigold head I think might be my tangerine marigolds.

OHHHHH I see ! I couldn't imagine what you meant with holes in the side thanks for the Visual! that bucket ought to be pretty heavy once they all grow to fruiting!
last year when they started to produce did any of the branches break off on the ones growing out the sides??

They just had a thing on the QVC
2 of the upside down bucket things, for
$23.95...

$23.00

I have been doing this for a year now. There is a picture on this old link:

Picture of my upside down tomatoes

4th picture down

Big Jim

BigJim Did they produce for you and did they break the branches???

no branches broke.but clebirtys we're not that heavey(and once it got hot...it took a break from like june till august)

Its heavier when wet than when on the dry side.

I'm thinking of adding holes on the corners next year to my hanging pot.

Ace Hardware has 3-5 gallon buckets and their 5 gallon bucket is only $3 and comes in white or red or green.they no longer carry the yellow.I would worry growing in a potting mix bag as it gets quiet hot in TX.

JIM~ It was proably the heat that stopped your production,but when your temps dropped some they should have picked back up and shot out some fruit.I could get fruit of celbirty till bout june,then was Sept when it picked back up.I had blossoms in between but no fruit,but from June-Sept we don't drop below 80& get triple digit temps quiet a bit too.Your plant looks good though.but think your pot should bigger.I wouldn't go below 3 gallon pot,plus you we're watering alot too huh.(I watered less in my 5 gallon pot,but was dangerous to my health to unhook& turn,plus fell of ladder one day doing so too.)

Hi angelblossom!

I have never had a problem with branches breaking. The tomato plants I have are like giant water sucking weeds.

This plant have been producing fruit for about 8 months now. My tomatos never look like the ones in magazines, but I still have maybe 2 or 3 ripe ones at a time from this one pot.

Njoynit - thank you, and I agree, yes, I probably was watering them too much, expecially in the cooler months, you think?

I have my bucket ready, I have to set my pole first.

I have a Celebrity ready to go in it.

I plan on it, but haven't figured where I want the pole yet. I should still have a half bag of sackcrete somewhere.

I have to cut the pole and I am going to notch the top. That should hold at least 2 up.

Wow that is amazing

Would squash work with the upside down growing?? I don't really feel like building a trellis for the vines. I have about 10 squash plants that will need homes soon.

That sounds neat ! But I'm wondering if the weight of the squashes would break the vines?
Since they wouldn't have support? I'm not sure.

I've never done it...

but also you'd need to take into consideration
what kind of squash first?????

Some squash plants, like yellow summer squash and zucchini are either bush or vining...
the bush I definately don't think would work at all...

Deborah... If I feel my tomatoes are going to be to heavy for the branches I will be putting a tomatoe cage under the bucket to help support the branches of course my buckets aren't too high so it will work I chose roma tomatoes because this is my first time planting UpSide down and it bears a smaller fruit. We'll see this season if I'm going to do this again next year.

Diane,
Have you been takin' pictures of the new growth,
to see how it fills in????
Realllllllly lookin' forward to this post/thread
and how it looks as it gets by in time over the summer...

Wow! That really looks cool. You've given me some ideas, since I am limited for space. Tomatoes on the bottom and another crop on top...the possibilities are endless.

Thanks!

Shawn

Shawn,
Keep us posted if you do do this...
We'd love ...

I definitly will give this a try and will post with my results.

Thanks.

Shawn

Thanks Shawn, we'll be looking forward to it...

My upside down tomatoe plants were looking bad for a little while but seems to be perking up again I have one bloom on the larger bucket it hasn't gotten any longer but has it still regained it strength and greening up pretty well



I had to move the shepards hook against the support pole to the fence AND tie it up with a rope cuz the buckets are just to darn heavy for the hooks... Hey Weezie maybe the pulley system wasn't such a bad Idea after all

We'll try to think of something for next year!

The tomato plants are lookin' pretty good....

Givin' them a foliar spray of anything???
**Fish Emulsion???** **Compost tea* might
give 'er a wee~bit of a hand!

no I haven't sprayed with anything just epsom salt I thought about banana peels cut up but seeings how its upside down think it will do much good??

OMG I just read through this because Ive noticed this thread was a hot topic! WOW!! This is so cool. Angelblossom: Your pictures are great. Ive never heard of doing this before and your instructions make it look really fun!

Karen

Thinking: I have a 5 gallon bucket and an extra tomato plant. Now, do I have somewhere to hang it......?

Karen >> Thanks Just be sure to hang it somewhere that would handle the weight when it rains Do you have a clothes line "T' pole?? Sure wish I had one !! :rolleyes:

Update on this project!

you can see a tomato growing on one no blooms or tomatos on the other one But there is still plenty of time for that I will continue to post as it grows.

Angel, good idea about adding a cage if it looks like you need to.
These are great pictures-everything looks healthy.
I can hardly wait for a sunny day, and heading out to my tomatoes, salt shaker in hand !

Those tomato plants really look great! I'm really anxious to see them as they progress. What a neat idea!

Hello all,

I started my tomatoes a couple weeks ago and they are looking pretty good. It's amazing how fast they turned right up. I used cherry tomatoes, due to space, and have quite a few flowers now. I'll post some pictures once they start getting some fruit.

Shawn

Mine are now moved into their permanent spot.they have more nasturuims blooming now mostly just orange yellow and some blened orange yellow.I've gave it some fertilizer to help with yellowing.

Looking good!!!!!!!!!!!

btw what is the purpose of planting these upside down? is it for deeper roots? i'm just amazed at the strength of the branches when it fruits. . dont they break?

Danno... This is my first year for this and because I like trying new and different things I thought I'd give this a shot!
This is a good idea for those with limited ground planting space or
for those who have physical problems bending over to tend to the plants needs, or for people like me who simply want to try it and see if I want to do it again next year..
It also is suppose to help eliminate bugs, and diseases commonly found on inground tomatos, or what ever fruit you plant.
The ideal fruit to plant is cherry or roma tomatos, or any light weight veggie or fruit as a heavier ones I suppose would break the branches ..
So far I haven't seen any bugs of any sort or any leave fungus and I have 2 tomatos so far , although.. the roma I have in ground have 12 tomatos on it .. and I planted at the same time,, But I believe I may have over watered the U.S.down ones too much at first trying to figure out how much is required per bucket was a trick question and I almost killed them ..
Njoynit has planted them for a couple of seasons now and can probably give you even more reasons than I for your questions,,

This is so cool, I would like to try this.
I cannot wait to hear more or see more pics about the upside down tomato.
I guess what goes up must come down?
very neat,enjoy all this info and ideas:-)

Congrats! I just started my first upside down tomato plant as well. I purchased an inexpensive plastic hanging planter for about $2. I drilled the center draining hole a little bigger to poke the plant through. Its now hanging on a shepherd's hook as well. I noticed that you put flower seeds in the top. I have a few wildflower seeds left over, could I plant them in the top as well?

Hi Mitzi!! Wow we're practicaly neighbor! I'm in Grandprairie, sure you can put flowers seed herbs what ever as long as it doesn't grow long roots. I had planted impatients on the top of mine but they didn't take.. Njoynit planted flowers on hers and they look great !

Cool, we are neighbors! I had some leftover wildflower seeds so IN they went. I didn't have anywhere else to put them anyway. I can't wait to see the results. Thanks...


{No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.}

I have planted Nasturuims& marigolds this year with cherry tomatoes& banana peppers.

I love the fact that I have virtualy NO soil issues.hardly any leaf problems growing this way.

I've grown them this way about 4 years now.My next set will be with basil& garlic.I'll proably still add some marigold also.
Plus everyone is intrested in them!
I'd stay with shorter flowers.I've grown marigolds out the sides...growing upwards also.I really like the nasturiums with them,but know the heat will kill them out soon.

I got my 1st mater off Better boy yesterday.It beat early girl whose will be ready in about 2 more days