Have you ever thought about planting tomatoes hanging upside down? Well, don’t be surprised, because this is becoming one of the most popular ways to grow tomatoes. The best part about this method is that you don’t have to worry about weeding and dealing with pests and diseases that are so common when you grow them in the ground. Do you want to know how to plant tomatoes upside down? Well, this is how you can do it easily.
If you’re already a tomato grower, you already know that most tomato varieties require a large container. Get an empty 5-gallon bucket with a lid. You can save some money by finding it around the house or just head to the nearest hardware store and get one. Once you find your container, you should clean the bucket thoroughly to remove any debris or harmful chemicals that may be inside.
Now you need to drill a hole in the middle of the bottom of the bucket. Make sure it is 2-3 inches tall. You will also need to drill smaller holes in the lid so that it can be easily watered when the plant is placed inside.
The next thing you will need is material that you can use to anchor the tomato plant. Newspaper is ideal for this purpose. Just put several layers in the bottom of the bucket.
Now it’s time to add the soil. Fill the bucket to about an inch from the top. Nutrients are essential for a seedling to grow into a healthy plant, so add some to the soil and secure the lid of the bucket.
Now you have the earth inside the bucket and it is closed with the lid. Simply turn the bucket upside down and plant the tomato seedlings. To do this, just cut some slits in the newspaper that you placed at the bottom. You can access it through the 3-inch hole you drilled in the bottom of the bucket. Once the indentations are made, gently place the seedling into the hole. Make sure about 3 inches stick out of the hole. If you need something extra to anchor the seedling, just use some extra soil.
Now your hanging tomato plant is ready and all you need to do is hang it in the appropriate place. Make sure the structure you use to hang your 5-gallon bucket is strong enough to support the weight. And remember, tomato plants need room to grow, so they shouldn’t be hung too low to the ground. Leave at least 5 feet of space between the bucket and the ground for the plant to grow.
When choosing a location, make sure your plants get enough sunlight. Plants need adequate lighting to grow and produce fruit. So having a hanging tomato planter makes it ideal for you to move with the sun.
Now the only thing you have to take care of is to water and fertilize the plants regularly and wait for the flowers to appear and turn into fruits. Are you ready to eat fresh, ripe tomatoes from your upside-down hanging tomato plants?