How do you start an upside-down tomato plant?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.To begin with, an upside-down tomato plant, ensure you've prepared everything for success. First, select dwarf varieties or compact varieties that will thrive in suspended conditions. Proper bucket alterations and soil preparation provide the groundwork for your upside-down tomato shake. Follow these steps to grow thriving tomatoes in an upside-down position.
Variety Selection
- Choose dwarf cherry or grape tomatoes under 3 feet tall
- Avoid large beefsteak types prone to stem breakage
- Look for flexible stems that bend without snapping
Container Preparation
- Use food-grade 5-gallon buckets for safety
- Drill 1.5-2 inch drainage hole in exact center
- Sanitize with vinegar solution before planting
Soil Mix Formula
- Combine 2 parts potting soil, 2 parts coco coir, 1 part perlite
- Moisten mix before filling buckets for even hydration
- Leave 2-inch space below rim for watering
Carefully position seedlings through the fabric-lined hole. I use burlap squares with X-shaped slits to support roots. Feed the roots up from below without sharply bending the stems. This is to avoid damaging the plant and stunting early growth during the hanging system.
Always hang your bucket right after planting. Waiting to hang the bucket can cause the soil to settle and put stress on soft stems. I discovered this because three of my seedlings snapped overnight once. Use a heavy-duty hook rated for 50 pounds or more to avoid this stress.
Water the plant thoroughly after hanging to help settle the soil around the roots. Continue watering daily as you establish the plant. Watch for signs of wilting that indicate the plant is not installed properly. My first successful plants had fruit eight weeks after planting using the method above.
I prefer to orient my buckets south to capture the most sunlight. I rotate the buckets each week so they don't grow unevenly. I attach wheels to the hanging system, making rotation easy. This prevents the buckets from rising unevenly. Overall, it significantly improves fruit production.
Read the full article: How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down Successfully
