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Growing Tomatoes

Anyone done the upside down tomatoes?

16 years ago

I saw the Topsy Turvy and was impressed. Of course, I'm not spending $19.99 for an upside down bag, but it got me thinking, there are plenty of things that can be used instead. I am going to experiment with a 2 liter bottle of cola and other things from around the house. Has anyone done this?

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Comments (6)

Scott Schluter
16 years ago
Someone gave me one so I gave it a whirl last year. Nowhere near the production out of that plant than I got out of the ones in my lasagna beds. I used Miracle Grow in the bag too.
growingup
Original Author
16 years ago
That's too bad. The maker promises 4x the production.
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IÂm sorry to say that I was gullible enough to try one on a lark this past week. The water in the container constantly dripped down the plant (Yes, water is subject to gravity!) and kept both the stem and leaves drenched in dirty, soil-containing water 24 hours per day. And anyone who has ever grown tomatoes knows that the one thing you do not want to do is keep the leaves and stems of your plants constantly soaked in dirty water. The healthy little plant I placed in this ridiculous container lasted only about 3 days before dissolving into a little ball of dead, green goo. How the heck this company can get away with selling a product so patently bad and ill advised is beyond me. For me, this worthless little emperor has not a STITCH of clothing! Please spread the wordÂif you buy this product you are very likely doing nothing more than flushing your hard-earned money down the toilet.
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to grow tomatoes upside down its better to use 5 gallon buckets. You cut a small hole in the bottom and place a sheet of newspaper or a coffee filter over it. Fill the bucket with a good potting soil, shaking occasionally so the soil will settle. lay another sheet of newspaper or coffee filter on top of the soil. cut another small hole in the bucket lid. Put the lid on and turn the bucket over. cut a small hole in newspaper or coffee filter so you can plant the tomatoe. I plant them when they are pretty small as its easier to get them in. Water daily until it get a nice size then flip the bucket over and hang it up. Preferable to a heavy clothline pole or something strong enough to hold it. You can remove the lid and plant something in the top or you can leave the lid on. Water well until the water starts running out the bottom. No staking is needed and tomatoes never lay on the ground. I am doing this method this year. I'm doing two different buckets, hanging them on the old kind of clothline pole that's like a large T. I put chicken wire loosely up the main pole and am growing cucumbers up the pole. So far everything is doing good. Happy Gardening, Gemfire
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Do you mean rather than using a 5-gallon bucket right side up? I wouldn't bother, simply because I've never had any problems with their being stable growing determinates, and one time indeterminates in a self-watering version of them. I don't see how there would be any more room for root growth if you cut the bottom off, put the lid on the top, and then turned it upside down. Furthermore, they're easier to move around if you can use the handles! You just have to provide support for tomatoes, and that's maybe where the stability comes in. You'd need the support to be outside the bucket on the earth (or deck, wherever you put the container). But that's true for containers growing many large plants.
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Hi everyone, I want to experiment with "Upside-down" tomatoes this year but have one question that has not been answered on any of the posts I read. For upside-down planting, which type of tomato is best; determinate or indeterminate? I read about folks whose plants have broken off as they attempt to change direction and I wonder if that is because they planted the wrong type. I also read that many have a problem with water weeping on the stem and others who find it necessary to water multiple times per day. I will be trying out an idea for making the bottom of the container a reservoir by a method I have yet to devise, lol. If no one knows which type of tomato is better, I guess I will just have to plant one of each and let you all know after the harvest.
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digdirt2
16 years ago
Linked several past discussion below for you - just scroll down to all the threads with the blue banners. Several of them contain container suggestions. Many use a 5 gallon plastic bucket with a hole cut in the bottom.

JMO but I think a 2 L pop bottle would be sure to fail as even the smallest dwarf varieties need more soil mass than that and you'd have to be watering it every couple of hours. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Upside down tomato discussions
timmy1
16 years ago
I grew them one year.

Only problem was I was getting a sore spot on the top of my head from standing on it while picking them.
dave1mn2
16 years ago
I grew two last year and was disapointed.

IMO, cutting a hole in the bottom of an otherwise good 5gal. bucket was a waste of a good bucket.

I'll not bother with it again. Production was pathetic and taste, uninspiring.

I was hopeful but for me, it wasn't even worth it for orphins.
raisemybeds
16 years ago
I've done it a few times. I have a special bucket that I cut a hole in just to make my own "topsy turvy" or whatever they call it. It's a novelty to watch it grow, but NO advantage in production that I experienced. People will think you are cool, though, if you have one.

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