Upside down tomatoes or hanging tomatoes have become popular in the last few years. Part of the popularity may lie in the fact that the setup makes gravity work for the gardener. With the tomato plant protruding from the bottom of the container, no staking or caging in necessary. As well, water moves to the bottom of the container, where the plant can use it. It's also a little easier to find and harvest tomatoes.
Obtain a bucket with handle
Obtain as many 5 gallon buckets as tomato plants desired. Home improvement stores carry them for around $5. Grocery stores and restaurants will often give away extras for free.
Grab a saw and drill
Tools needed are a cutting tool and a drill. Cutting tools include a utility knife, keyhole saw, jigsaw or similar tool that will cut plastic. The drill can be a hand or power drill.
Cut a hole in the bucket
Cut a 2 inch hole in the bottom of the bucket . Drill drainage holes in the bottom of the bucket. Four holes about 5/8 inch in size work well. More holes of smaller diameter can also be used.
Place a collar around each plant
For each tomato plant, cut a slit from the outer edge of a coffee filter or round piece of card stock to the center. Place the base of the tomato in the center of the coffee filter or card stock circle.
Place plant in bucket
Gently work the plant through the hole in the bottom of the bucket. The soil and roots will be on the inside of the bucket.
Fill bucket with soil
Fill the bucket with soil up to 3 inches or so below the rim. The root of the plant can be gently moved upward as soil is added. Tomatoes like to be buried deep, and 4-5 inches isn't too much as long as leaves are still visible above the soil.
Hang
Install a plant hanger in the location desired for the tomato plant. Hang the plant and water. A porch that gets a lot of afternoon sun is ideal. Remember, tomatoes like 6-8 hours of sun a day in order to fruit well.
Which tomato variety to plant?
Determinate tomatoes grow to a certain size, flower, and fruit all at once. Indeterminate varieties are the monsters that grow and fruit all season long.
Paste tomatoes, such as Roma, are great for paste, sauces, and drying. They are meaty and not overly juicy.
Beefsteak varieties are great for sandwiches, salads, and salsa.
Early varieties, such as Early Girl, set fruit and ripen earlier than other varieties.
Celebrity, Spitfire, and Early Girl do great in hot climates.
Early Girl, Siberian, and Glacier are good for cool climates.
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