If you found this article then, chances are, you have heard of growing tomato plants upside down before. These tomato plants are also referred to, by some, as upside tomato plants. It is not much of a surprise as to why people grow tomatoes this way, as you will soon discover. There are a great many benefits, and it also creates something a little different in your garden!
Benefits
The resulting benefits of growing your tomatoes upside down include bigger harvests and better quality fruit for you and your family. Air circulation around the plant is improved, and because of this, it results in less fungus and disease problems. Your plants will also tend to remain drier, due to them being more ventilated. Because your plants will be drier, your fruits will be less likely to rot. This method has also being attributed to lowering stress levels of the plant.
Growing tomato plants upside-down
To setup an upside-down growing system at home is relatively straightforward, and can be achieved with a small cost. There are systems you can purchase, but it is much more fun to create your own. The main item you will need to grow your tomatoes upside down is a container of some sort. By far the most popular is a five gallon container, but anything should work fine, as long as it has a strong enough handle to support the weight of the plant.
Make a hole in the bottom of the container and in the lid. It should be about 2 inches, or 5 centimeters in diameter. After placing some light fabric or a coffee filter over the bottom of your container, fill it with some loosely packed soil. Tomato plants need a dry, well-drained soil. Another piece of fabric or coffee filter will now be placed on top of the soil. Flip the container over, so the bottom now becomes the top, and cut a slit into the fabric. It is now ready to receive your tomato plants. Place you plants deeply into the soil, covering some of the stem, then leave to grow about a foot high before hanging them. This will usually be a few weeks. Choose a place to hang your tomato plants that receives lots of sunlight, and will be able to hold the weight of the fruiting plant. You can setup your own support system or use whatever is existing. You could use your clothes lines or your pergola.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have now created upside-down growing tomato plants.
As with all tomato plants, be sure to water them frequently. The soil won’t drain as well as tomatoes in the ground, so be extra careful not to over water them. Add fertilizer straight to the soil when necessary. You may need to train your tomato plant, during the early stages, to not grow up into the container.
I am sure you will love the benefits of growing tomatoes this way. Delicious, good quality fruit will be coming your way. It really is something different to try out, and the whole family can get involved. I recommend giving it a go!