Traditional gardening practices are gradually giving way to new, original and interesting ways of growing familiar crops. What modern summer residents have not thought of in order to diversify the design of their site and save landing space. Tomatoes upside down is one such technique.

How to plant tomatoes upside down. Growing feature

What gives such a strange way of growing, what are its advantages?

  • a tomato growing upside down looks very decorative;
  • the ability to grow tomatoes even where there is no land (balcony, porch, etc.);
  • use the upper tier of the greenhouse;
  • tomatoes growing in this way do not need to be pinned and tied;
  • hanging tomatoes are reliably protected from pests;
  • tomatoes upside down do not need weeding, loosening and hilling;
  • yield with this method will not only not decrease, but even increase, since when watering, water will be delivered directly to the roots, and the roots themselves will receive more light and heat;

    Tomatoes upside down

  • water consumption for irrigation is significantly reduced;
  • it is very convenient to harvest crops growing right at hand;
  • flowers can be planted in the upper part of the container;
  • due to the fact that the roots warm up better and faster, the ripening of tomatoes occurs two weeks earlier;
  • there will be something to surprise neighbors and acquaintances.

Of course, this method also has disadvantages:

  • you need a strong and reliable support, because a bush with a pot will weigh about 25 kg;
  • Planting an inverted tomato is a little more difficult than normal;
  • not every variety and hybrid may be suitable.

Important! Any plant tends to grow up, no matter how it is positioned, and tomatoes are no exception. Therefore, it is impossible to use varieties that have thick and fragile shoots and large heavy fruits - the branches will break under the weight.

Ampelous varieties or varieties and hybrids that have flexible liana-shaped shoots and medium-sized fruits growing in brushes are suitable. Since the function of this method is more decorative, tomatoes such as Pearl, Red Hunter, yellow Wagner Mirabelle and unusual dark colors - Black bunch are perfect. As if a hybrid Ampelin F1 specially bred for growing up by roots, and already tested Chery, Roma, Arctic will also look great. The Rapuzel variety is very advantageous for growing tomatoes upside down. He gives brushes with up to 50 tomatoes on each: you can imagine how great such a bush would look like.

How to plant tomatoes upside down in buckets, plastic bottles. Instructions

Growing a tomato upside down part 2. How to grow tomatoes upside down in a bucket?

Tomatoes in the process of growing

How to plant potatoes correctly: sprouts up or down

In order for the bush to develop normally and bear fruit, it needs a place for roots and a sufficient amount of nutrients. Such conditions can only be created in containers with a capacity of at least five liters. The retail network quickly responds to all new items, and you can find a suitable container in the store. But it is cheaper and more customary for gardeners to adapt buckets, cans and other containers available on the farm for this. Food grade plastic buckets are ideal.

Attention! The same buckets, only for technical needs, should not be used. When heated, such plastic will release harmful substances that will pass into the plant and can harm human health. Five-liter water bottles will be a good and free container.

In containers of a dark color, the earth will be very hot in the sun, so with the onset of warm weather it is better to repaint them white or wrap them in white paper or reflective material.

How to plant tomatoes upside down?

If this is a bucket, then a hole is made in its bottom, into which the root of the plant is threaded so that the sprout protrudes outward by about 5 cm, and the roots are inside. The bottom of the bottle is cut out, and the sprout is threaded through the neck. Moss, crumpled paper, or other similar material should be placed in the hole around the trunk to prevent soil from spilling out, and water can flow freely. The container is then filled with potting soil and suspended from the support. Unlike a bucket, a bottle does not have a handle, so you need to make a hanging device for it. Watering is done after placement. You need to water until water begins to flow through the hole below. After watering, the earth should settle, then it is poured to the required volume.

Note! Tomatoes upside down in bottles grow better than in a bucket because they are more exposed to sunlight, while the bottom of the bucket creates shade in the first stage of growing.

Tomatoes in buckets

Features of soil mixture for growing shape-shifting tomatoes

The easiest and most reliable way is to purchase a soil mixture for tomatoes in a store. When growing tomatoes upside down in such soil, additional feeding is not required, since its composition is balanced, and there is enough nutrition for the entire growing period. If it is supposed to prepare the soil on your own, then you should exactly observe the necessary proportions: take one part of humus, compost, peat. For each bucket of such a mixture, add one tablespoon of superphosphate and ammonium nitrate.

How to plant seedlings. Watering and caring for hanging tomatoes

Seedlings for tomatoes are planted upside down at the same time and using the same classical technology as for the conventional growing method. The difference is that in this case it is not worth fighting with pulling, it not only does not interfere here, but even benefits, because the task of the gardener is to grow a powerful root system. Therefore, when diving, the seedlings need to be deepened as much as possible, this is where the elongated seedlings will do. The lower leaves are simply cut off, and the plant is deepened by 10 - 15 cm. With such a pick, a deeper container, for example, a cardboard milk bag, is suitable.

Attention! Do not turn the container over immediately after planting the seedlings. You need to leave it in a supine position until it becomes noticeable that the tomato bush has shown signs of growth.

Hanging structures not only need to be durable, but also easy to care for, water and harvest. It is necessary to select the optimal height, which allows you to easily raise the watering can, but so that the tomato bush has room to grow down. An old clothes hanger is great for supporting the tomatoes upside down.

Tomatoes in buckets in a greenhouse

Tomatoes upside down do not require any special care. On the contrary, this method of growing allows you to do without weeding, loosening, garters. The only caveat is more frequent watering due to heating of the soil in containers. Drying of the soil must not be allowed!

Advice! To retain moisture, mulching with a white covering material is recommended, while not only covering the soil surface, but also the entire container.

It makes sense for novice gardeners to first try out the technique of planting shape-shifters on a small number of bushes of different varieties. The first experience will tell you which variety or hybrid has shown itself to be the best, and this instruction will help to avoid mistakes in this new interesting enterprise.If all goes well, then in subsequent years the number of plantings will continuously increase, delighting with a rich harvest and an unusually attractive appearance.