Their commercials are all over the television and Internet, the planters that allow someone to grow vegetables and fruit overturned; however there is a cheaper and better way to make a planter for these great red garnishments everyone loves. Growing tomatoes upside down makes great fruit and many say it’s a good way to have more produce at the end of the season than with a traditional garden.
The homemade style planters for inverted ruby red fruits could be placed in five gallon paint bucket, preferably a new one, so that the vines grow downwards instead of upwards. People who have been using this procedure for growing various fruits and vegetables for several years say they receive more fruit and it’s because they plants gain more oxygen through their branches and there is less stress placed on the branches of the plant because it is growing downwards as gravity takes over.
The procedure is simple and comes together better if two or more people are putting them together. The first thing one needs to do is to cut a hole in the bottom of the bucket that is about 2-3 inches in diameter for the plant to grow out of. This could be done with a drill or a very sharp knife. Some of the buckets have a circle already imprinted on the bucket so it might be easier to cut this portion out.
A good idea might be to place the bucket, right side up, on top of two pieces of wood that have been laid across a wooden workbench so that the plants will have room to hang down. This will also give the individual more space to work with the plants. The next step is to tenderly place the plant through the hole, leaving the roots in the bucket and the leafy part outside the bucket. In order to keep the soil in the bucket and not allow it to fall out, use a coffee filter or newspaper. Poke a smallish hole in this paper material and pull the roots through it so the paper is now lying on the bottom of the bucket but the roots are still visible.
Placing one or two cups of the potting soil around the roots at a time, do not let go of the plant until the roots are completely covered and the plant feels secure. Keep filling the bucket up until almost reaching the rim with the soil, leaving about one or two inches for settling and water.
It is important to water the upturned planter and its new plant as soon as the job is completed. Much of the water will be coming out of the hole at the bottom. Peer into the top of the bucket and make sure the soil did not compact upon itself too much. If this has happened, then add an additional lay of soil so the roots will have plenty of room to take hold. Once the water has stopped coming out of the hole and dripping off the leaves, it will be time to carry the large bucket planter to its last stop.
It is paramount to walk the planter buckets with care over to their final growing space. Do not allow them to brush against the ground or a leg because these plants will have just experienced some trauma from the transplant. They need plenty of sunlight for most of the day. A porch or shed where there is plenty of hanging room is ideal, or an old swing-set with the swings taken down creates a lovely hanging garden.
This technique of growing tomatoes upside down makes great vegetables throughout the season of growing. This is an inexpensive, fun and simple way to have a garden when there is not enough earth to plant a traditional garden. Limited space is the prefect area for these bucket planters.
Make sure you check out Mike’s latest free report: 22 Tomato Plant Problems Solved – and click here for more info on growing tomatoes upside down