Growing upside-down?

16 years ago

I'm tired of tying tomatoes to cages!!! and rolling and crawling under the aviary wire shades I have to use to keep my neighbors' rats off our tomatoes! So we've decided to rework our pallet rack to grow tomatoes hanging down from the dirt above so I can throw wire over them to keep the rats out and it'll be easier to get under and NO MORE TYING and was wondering if anybody on this list has tried those TV upside down gadgets or other method of upside-down growing and cares to point out why it is or isn't great? Thanks.

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Comments (9)

eplina
16 years ago
lts has been said that it does bear increased yields if you do compare to other plants that are grown the "normal" way in containers.

l also read that there is an increased in air circulation to the leaves. Disease and pest are avoided since there is no contact with garden soil

Here is a link that might be useful: GrowingTomatoesUpsideDown
digdirt2
16 years ago
There has been a number of discussions on them here but since the search engine is currently down I can't pull them together for you to review.

Mixed results as I recall the discussions but nothing rave about them. Like many of these "gadget approaches to gardening" they never seem to be quite as wonderful as the TV commercials would have us believe. ;)

Hopefully the SE will be back soon and then you can find the discussions using "upside down tomatoes".

Dave
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I'm assuming you know that lots can be done with patio gardening without getting into the upside down approach? It's a fad and from most discussions here about it, an unsuccessful one at that. If you feel you must go upside down then I'd suggest ticking with light-weight things like herbs and leafy greens. Just a suggestion. ;) But that said, IF I were going to try it I'd stick with one of the smaller pickle variety cucumbers. The weight of the regular sized cukes, given even 3-4 on the vine, plus gravity would likely rip the plant right out of the planter. An additional problem is that cukes possess a high demand for consistent soil moisture levels to avoid bitterness. Maintaining a consistent soil moisture level in an upside down planter is exceptionally problematic. Good luck if you decide to do it and let us know how it turns out. Dave
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Nick, I will repot my Dinema polybulbon (aka Encyclia) today. The plant has been outside for a few months. It is currently rambling in lateral directions outside of its clay pot in a small Cattleya mix. Dinema polybulbon needs no special attention other than adequate water and an open, fresh medium. The overnight weather is very heavy mist. PERFECT! This species is very flexible. I will curl it around and around within the next appropriately sized, shallowest clay pot in my shed. This species doesn't need any depth! :) My orchid friend who gave me my "piece" allows hers to wrap itself around her much larger, shallow pot. Another friend with the same species/same source, has his growing vertically on a cork bark mount and it is "leggy" and out of control. He is happy with it, as is. To encourage new growth in plants in more than one direction, I have learned to rotate the pot periodically 150ÃÂ° (change the orientation from 12 o'clock to 5 o'clock). Most of the time, it works, more often than to leave the plant in a static position. --Stitz--
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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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Yes, tomatoes can be grown upside down! Advantages: Tomatoes can be grown just about anywhere there is enough sun, in very little space. No need to support the tomato plant. Plant is not near soil borne insects and diseases. No need for weed control. Disadvantages: A mature tomato plant with fruit plus wet potting soil will get very heavy, choose your support carefully. In full sun, these relatively small containers can dry out rapidly and expose roots to high temperatures. The plant will try to right itself (towards light, away from gravity), but as it grows, the weight of the plant will keep it growing downward but the stem may also break. Tips: Choose a determinate type tomato plant. Use an adequately sized light-colored pot that won't get too warm during hot days. Plant the rootball as close to the top of the container as possible, so the roots have more room to fill the pot before hitting the bottom. The roots will continue to grow downward from the rootball until they hit the bottom of the pot and then grow in circles to fill the pot. Make sure the container has adequate drainage besides just the hole where the plant is coming out.
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drtluvr_in_z6
16 years ago
Well, It works in Australia (Ha, Ha) They're on the bottom of the globe, see, so..Seriously I bought some bags from thompson morgan As the Brits say they were very DEAR. I washed the soil out when I watered. There were plants but no fruit on the toms;a few annual flowers zinnas,but not as nice as a potted plant. Of course I have friends of friends who rave about great successes but no first person success stories or proof.
ddsack
16 years ago
Since you did also ask "why it isn't great" ...

I always wonder if anyone else is going to say this, but guess not, so maybe I'm alone in feeling this way. But gosh darn, to me those upside down pots just look so unnatural and unattractive. You're left looking at a plain ugly empty looking pot or pail at eye level. No leaves cascading over the edge to camoflauge or soften it. Maybe if there were some wave petunias or trailing lobelia planted on top that would hide the pot? But then they'd be competing with the tomato for nutrients.
Aesthetically, I much prefer my plants right side up as nature intended. But each to his/her own.
dave1mn2
16 years ago
I grew two last year in the same mix as other container toms but upside down.

I will not be bothering with this again.

More work, less production.

If it were the only way I could grow toms, I'd think about it but other than that, I found it a complete waste and had wanted it to work.
eyegrowall
16 years ago
I am new to gardening, but i am growing 1 upside down jelly bean hybrid, it's healthy, but is growing a lot slower then the rest. I just used a empty gallon jug. I cut the bottom out and hung it upside down. then place the seedling and filled with soil.
blazepepper
16 years ago
I purchased 2 topsy turvy's this year just to give it a shot, I figured, what the hell? right? I'm gonna try a Roma and a husky cherry red. We'll see how it works!
wild_forager
16 years ago
I'm going to try a cherry, beefsteak and roma varieties in them this year. I have never used them before so it's quiote experimental. From all the discussions I've read it seems the best idea is to avoid it if you have good solid alternatives, and if not then try it for yourself. There are so many varying results and all of that has to do with the conditions each one is grown under. I believe I can be successful and I'm not going into it looking for a cake walk. I'm used to watering small containers once or twice a day so it wo't be a huge step for me to take.
digdirt2
16 years ago
Here's a link to the previous discussions if you want to read them.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Upside down tomatoes...

Growing upside-down?

Comments (9)

eplina

digdirt2

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