Upside Down Tomato Plants

At first glance, this might look like an unusual way to grow
tomatoes. But Jim Appleby from Iowa has discovered several
benefits to hanging his tomatoes in buckets. First, the air can
circulate better so the plants have almost no disease problems.
Second, the fruit doesn’t rot as quickly as that on the ground.
And finally, some critters that eat tomatoes have trouble getting
to the ripening fruit.

To make the upside-down containers, Jim used 5-gallon
buckets with tight-fitting lids. He recycled his from a restaurant,
but says you can find them many places, such as paint or
hardware stores.

Jim scrubs each bucket out with soapy water and makes sure
the handle is attached securely. He cuts a 2-inch or larger
diameter hole in the center of the lid and one in the bottom of
the bucket. To make the holes, he uses a drill with a hole saw
bit (an attachment for cutting a door to install the doorknob).

With the bucket standing upright and the lid off, Jim covers the hole in the bottom with a coffee filter
or scrap of fabric. That way the soil won’t fall out when he turns the bucket over. He fills the bucket
full of a lightweight potting mix, shaking it to settle the soil.

Before he puts the lid back on, Jim lays another coffee filter over the soil where the hole will be.
Next, he puts the lid on and turns the bucket upside down.

Jim cuts a slit through the filter in the hole and plants a tomato seedling. To give the tomato a fast
start, he strips off the lower leaves and plants the seedling deeply so roots can form along the stem.
He places the planted bucket in a sunny location and keeps it well-watered for the next few weeks.

When the plant is about a foot tall, Jim’s ready to hang it up. The bucket needs a solid support to
hold the weight. A clothesline pole is ideal. If you hang the bucket from a building, make sure it won't
bang into a window or the siding on a windy day.

This part is easier with two people — one to lift and hold the bucket and one to fasten the chain. Jim
drapes a chain over the clothesline post while a friend lifts the bucket. He pulls the chain through the
handle of the bucket and fastens the ends together. You can buy chain loops made specifically for
fastening or use a piece of heavy wire and twist it to hold the chain together. Either way, Jim finds he
can raise and lower the height to harvest his tomatoes

WOW! Check out this planter! Now everyone
can enjoy a compact garden with fresh
tomatoes just about anywhere with this
Upside-down Tomato Garden!

Forget staking tomato vines! Let gravity take
over with this innovative Planter that elevates
the planting bed. Up to 4 tomato plants grow
downward from 4 pop-out holes in the bottom.
The hanging vines need almost no attention.

Grow additional veggies, flowers or herbs on
top in normal fashion. The 23 x 23 x 4 1/2"
heavy-duty plastic grow box is supported by a
PVC center pole and metal supports.

Stands 52" h. Weighs 20 lbs. Put your green
thumb to use today with your very own
Upside-down Tomato Garden!