Has anyone used the upside-down hanging container for growing tomatoes?

[Samurailord]

Today I have tried a new way (to me anyway) of growing tomatoes.

A few months back I bought an upside-down container for growing tomatoes in from the pound shop.



The idea is to put the plant in the bottom of the bag with the leaves hanging down, and then you fill the bag with compost and then water and feed as you would a normal tomato.

It is supposed to keep the plant away from slugs and snails, and encourage fruit development as there is no stress on the branches and stems from the weight of the fruit.

I eventually got around to putting this up this afternoon - has anyone else ever tried this, and how did it go?

Andy

[Bigmallly]

I haven't bought any of those but I have cut 3 or 4 small holes in a Morrisons bucket to grow some tumblers.

[singleseeder]

Have a look on youtube, there are several videos of pop bottles being used for this.

I'm not sure how there is less stress on the plant though, as the whole weight is being held by the roots. Let us know how you get on, with pics, please. We are always interested in different ideas.

[Samurailord]

Thanks for the replies - looks like I am going to be the pioneer on this one!

Lots of pics and reports to follow as it (hopefully) grows

Andy

[Newton]

Worth a go for a pound! They have been around for some time.......I think the fact that they are flogging them for a quid and nobody in the uk seems to be using them twice speaks volumes.

But best of luck with the project. Keep them well watered and fed.

I would be interested to see the root ball at the end of the project. Presumably the Roots don't know they are upside down and gravity wins?

Actually I Might have a go for a quid myself.........

[PMW]

I was given one of these yesterday and was just wondering whether to try it with a tumbling tom or chilli as I have a few of both that need potting on.

[Jeanied]

They were demonstrating this method at Wisley last year - using ordinary carrier bags with the plants poked into the bottom. Not the most elegant way of growing tomatoes I must say.

[Samurailord]

Had a look at my experimental tomato tonight, and I must say that it isn't looking at all good so far.

It has only been one day since planting up, but already the tomato has twisted around in search of the sun and is now bent double.



It looks like I may be in for trouble, or perhaps it will sort itself out?

Andy

[Two_Sheds]

I didn't get a chance to plant up our Upside Down Tomato Planter: the March winds repeatedly tore it off it's holdings (hooked & wired onto a pergola).

I'm rather glad now that it wasn't full of plants

[lottie dolly]

what the plant will do,is reach for the light,yours is already started,i have flowers that have done the same,in a planter bag,they flop down,then curl upwards,after all is what they do best,the problem i can see with toms is,they will be top heavy as they develop fruits,and in danger of snapping of,

[DGoulston]

I guess they would need to be south facing to stop them searching for the light? Will follow this as would be a good idea to get the most out of space!

[Bigmallly]

I wonder if the stalks at the bottom would eventually rot as they would be permanently in water. I did see something similar on UTube where the roots were actually growing out of the top, quite strange to see really.

[Matt94]

My dads mate used one last year, and like lotty dolly says, they dont realy work, (they search for the light and grow up the side of the container, so the base of the tomato stem looks like a 'U'.

[Samurailord]

Well, either way I am now committed to seeing this through to the end.

I am hoping that when fruits form the weight of them may straighten the stem out gradually so as not to snap it.

Time will tell

[Feral007]

My snow peas in the hanging baskets which are under the clear poly on the deck also headed upwards, but we've just untangled them from the hanging basket chains and they are now hanging nicely over the edges. I guess the problem for the tomato would be if the stalk was too brittle to change direction then it would break instead. Worth a try tho. Gardener out here who said if you're tomatoes are still green when the first frost is happening just pull the plant out of the ground and hang it upside down under cover till it ripens. Didn't get a chance to try it last year but might next season.