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I am sure you’ve seen these attractive trend of growing tomatoes upside down in small hanging planters on youtube or elsewhere. But have your ever wondered why growing tomatoes in pots inverted is advantageous? In this post, we will discuss the 4 Pros and the 4 Cons of this inverted gardening system for growing tomatoes or any other vegetable plant for that matter.
Before we discuss the pros and cons, let’s first learn how to grow tomatoes upside down starting from the seedling stage.
Growing Tomatoes from Seeds
You can grow tomato plants very easily from seeds in smaller containers or seedling trays first and then transplant them to larger containers. If you do not have seeds, you can grow them from fresh tomatoes. If you want to grow tomatoes upside down, choose a lightweight variety like cherry tomatoes.
Potting Soil Preparation
Take any clean potting soil containing peat moss or cocopeat and garden soil in a 1:1 ratio with some 30% compost like vermicompost or decomposed cow dung.
Planting the Seeds
Make multiple slices of about 3-4mm thickness and just place them in a container like this. Then cover with a thin layer of potting mix and make sure it’s not planted too deep. Finally, water this thoroughly and place it in a shady place like your windowsill. You should see the results within a week.
Transplanting Seedlings
When they reach a size of about 3 to 4 inches, transplant them into slightly larger containers independently. Adding a pinch of phosphorus supply like organic rock phosphate or bone meal powder in this early growth stage will help in stronger roots and a healthy disease-resistant future plant. When these grow to about 8 to 10 inches, it’s time for the final transplant to a larger container.
Making Them Grow Upside Down
To make them grow upside down, take any container like a hanging basket-type container. Make a hole of about 1-inch diameter like this. Then take a piece of foam and cut through it like this. Remove the root ball of your tomato sapling and gently remove the dirt from the roots. Insert the roots through the hole and place the foam like this from the inner side of the container. Finally, pour the potting mix into the container. Make sure you have a good amount of compost and also mix a tablespoon of phosphorus supply like bone meal or rock phosphate into this mix. Water the plant thoroughly and hang it at a favorite place in your garden. You might have to water it daily or you can even mulch the top with some mulching stuff to avoid water evaporation too quickly. You can also connect the drip feeder if you have a drip irrigation system.
Pros of Growing Tomatoes Upside Down
Small Space Gardening
You can grow tomatoes with little to no garden space. If you have a small balcony, you can grow them easily.
Flexibility
Tomatoes need full sun, and if you do not have sufficient sunlight in one area like in a balcony, you can easily shift to another area with full sunlight. For example, an east-facing balcony for morning sun and a west-facing balcony for evening sun. Moreover, they can be easily moved away from bad weather conditions.
No Staking or Cages Required
Staking is usually required to help the plant support the weight of the growing fruit. Smaller varieties like cherry tomatoes do well when grown upside down.
Pests and Diseases are Limited
One reason is they are hung at a height, and there is good air circulation around, and the soil-borne diseases are limited.
Cons of Growing Tomatoes Upside Down
Requires More Frequent Watering
This method requires at least daily watering and hence is difficult to grow in the summer season. So, you can mulch the top with some mulching stuff to avoid water evaporation too quickly. You can also connect the drip feeder if you have a drip irrigation system in your garden.
Weight Bearing Problem
When the plant is loaded with fruits, this system will have problems, especially with beefsteak tomatoes. Smaller cherry tomatoes are the best to grow in these inverted planters.
Fruit Ripening Issue
Tomatoes need sunlight to ripen the fruits. Fruits may not ripen well due to sunlight issues at the bottom part.
U-Shaped Bends and Turns
This happens due to phototropism, where the tips of the branches turn upward towards the light and cause these U-shaped bends and turns.
But, nonetheless, every hobby gardener must give this a try!
Please Watch a Video demonstrating on growing tomatoes upside down below:
