Hanging Tomato Planter
Hanging Tomato Planter – How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down!
By Rick Zimmerman
There is nothing better than a fresh tomato from your very own garden, and a hanging tomato planter may be just what you need to grow tomatoes that taste great!
A Hanging Tomato Planter is Perfect for Small Spaces
If you want the reward of growing your own tomatoes but don’t have enough room in your garden, then a solution to your space problem may be the new hanging tomato planter.
All you need is a small amount of space outdoors in any place that gets direct sunlight and has enough room that you can hang a potted plant.
Some people claim that if you grow tomatoes upside down, you’ll get more tomatoes than if you were to plant them traditionally.
Make Your Own Hanging Tomato Planter
If you would like to try to grow your own tomatoes upside down in a hanging tomato planter, there is a very easy way to do so. Just follow these directions and in no time you will have your own fresh tomatoes.
What You Need:
1) Five gallon bucket
2) Potting soil
3) A small tomato seedling
4) Several feet of 1/8 inch cord
5) Utility knife
You can choose any color bucket, however green gives more of a garden feel for some.
First, use warm water to rinse your hanging tomato planter well before starting.
Next, make a hole two to three inches in diameter in the center of the bottom with your knife.
Layer several newspapers in the bottom of the bucket. Make a small “X” cut in the newspaper through the hole in the bucket.
Attach the cord to the bucket. Generally you will want to attach the cord in 3 places to the top of the bucket to keep your hanging tomato planter level. you may want to use a drill or your utility knife to make the holes.
Remove the tomato seedling from its container.
Thread the seedling through the newspaper so the stem protrudes through the hole in the bucket, make sure the roots are inside the bucket. Remember to be gentle!
Now fill the bucket with the potting soil, taking care to fill the soil snugly around the roots of your tomato seedling. Make sure to take care during this step as the seedling is very fragile.
Cut several holes in the bucket lid, and place the lid on top of the bucket.
Make sure your plant has adequate room to grow in the downward position. That is, you want your hanging tomato planter to have several feet below it to allow for the plant to grow.
Make Sure to Hang Your Planter Where It Will Get Lots of Sun
Your plant should get direct sunlight at least half of the day, and more is better. Tomatoes love sun!
Keep Your Hanging Tomato Planter Well-Watered
Keep your hanging tomato planter well-hydrated. You may need to water your plant every 1-2 days, depending upon the heat and amount of sun. Remember that since you don’t have the ground surrounding your plant, you may need to water more often.
Prune Your Plants As Needed
Feel free to prune your plant as needed, removing any suckers that start. You can treat the plant in your hanging tomato planter just as a normal tomato plant.
Soon you’ll have some of the best tomatoes you have ever tasted. After your tomatoes have ripened on the vine, you may pick them as they become red and firm.
We aren’t sure if it’s the way these tomatoes are grown or if it is the satisfaction of growing them yourself, but tomatoes grown in a hanging tomato planter are some of the best.
Growing the tomatoes upside down does allow the nutrients to completely flow down into the leaves and plant itself.
Make sure to use a strong hook for your planter. Each hanging tomato planter can weigh as much as 40 pounds!