Growing tomatoes upside down

[magnet-man]

Has anyone tried growing tomatoes upside down. I have seen the commercials on TV and seen some done in plastic soft drink bottles on the web. I was thinking of trying some this spring and wanted to know if it was worth the effort.

[dragonfly]

I tried it a few years ago. I wasn't impressed, but I've read rave reviews from other people. Maybe it's just the climate in this area. Dunno.

[Sundance]

For container gardens they sound pretty cool. But don't
you have to have drip irrigation set up for them for best
results??

[abeeco]

I have done this. I like it. They always get attention and no need for a trellis.

just start your seeds in really little containers, transplant through the drainage holes in standard hanging flower baskets (ie 4 per basket).

you can also plant something shallow rooted in the top of the container

I don't know that anyone would want them for anything other than container gardens, but who knows. yes, any container is going to have to be watered more frequently than same plants in the ground. Irrigate if you want it is actually pretty simple to do with 1/8" black tubing

[Bodo]

I know a guy that uses 5gallon buckets with holes in the bottom that he suspends. UGLY! but nice looking plants.

[Scrapfe]

I know a guy that uses 5gallon buckets with holes in the bottom that he suspends. UGLY! but nice looking plants.

Take a 5 gallon plastic bucket with a good fitting lid, Turn the bucket upside down, there is a round mold mark on the bottom, cut or hole saw a hole in the bottom about as big as this mold mark.

Fill the bucket with good rich rotted manure etc. Pack down and put the lid back on. Drill a 1/4 inch drainage hole in the lid. Turn the bucket up side down and plant the tomato seedling in the hole in the bottom of the bucket.

When the weather is right and the seedling well rooted, remove the lid, and hang the 5 gallon bucket by the bail from an A frame. Mulch the soil in the top of the bucket heavily to hold water better. Water gently every day maybe twice as needed.

This is the downside, I feel you need at least a ten foot high A frame. Two or three 12-15 foot chunks of telephone pole set 2-3 feet into the ground and a scrap piece of metal pipe or a 4x4 wooden cross piece spanning the tops works as well. A watering wand fabricated from a piece of PVC or CPVC pipe, a ball style cut off valve, two 90degree elbows and a treaded connector to attach a garden hose to your wand works well. In my experience, zero, zip, zilch tomato pests. No tying or trellis needed. As the plant grows the ends will attempt to grow upright but the weight of new growth and fruits will pull the stalk and vines down. Think of an upside down mushroom.

Don’t sucker, this will cause to long of a vine. Using a bucket smaller than 5 gallons will result in badly stunted or stressed plants. More fertilizer is needed along because you will lose a lot of nutrients from leaching.

Did I mention you needed to water often?:scratch:

[Hambone]

Has anyone tried growing tomatoes upside down. I have seen the commercials on TV and seen some done in plastic soft drink bottles on the web. I was thinking of trying some this spring and wanted to know if it was worth the effort.

I have seen that all over tv too. They talked me into the Snuggie. They almost had me on the Sham-Wow. They are not getting me on this! Or if I just wait a couple more weeks, CVS will have it. Free freight too!

[randydrivesabus]

do you gotta stand on your head to pick them?

[dragonfly]

I have seen that all over tv too. They talked me into the Snuggie. They almost had me on the Sham-Wow. They are not getting me on this! Or if I just wait a couple more weeks, CVS will have it. Free freight too!

:D
I heard this morning that the Snuggie has sold something like 20 million.:eek:

As to the Sham-Wow, I've been tempted also, but I have resisted so far.:D

[Scrapfe]

I have seen that all over tv too. They talked me into the Snuggie. They almost had me on the Sham-Wow. They are not getting me on this! Or if I just wait a couple more weeks, CVS will have it. Free freight too!

why don't you and df go to Pigon Forge, tenn. They got this terrific store there called "AS SEEN ON TV" got all those crazy geegaws that never took off in sales that Ed McMann told us we can't live without, or was it with?
:scratch:

[MapMan]

Or if I just wait a couple more weeks, CVS will have it.

Walgreen's already have them - Topsy Turvy Tomatoes. Comes with a packet of seed too.

MM

[MapMan]

As to the Sham-Wow, I've been tempted also, but I have resisted so far.:D

I'm getting close to getting some of those Sham-Wows, yes-sir-ee. That Jason fella hawking them on TV is better than Billy Mays. :D

MM

[MapMan]

do you gotta stand on your head to pick them?

And to eat them. :lookout:


MM

[Bizzybee]

I have done it before. Other than the fruit not being as large, they did fine. No idea why they would be smaller?

[Hambone]

I heard this morning that the Snuggie has sold something like 20 million.:eek:

As to the Sham-Wow, I've been tempted also, but I have resisted so far.:D

CVS has the Sham-Wow. ;)


why don't you and df go to Pigon Forge, tenn. They got this terrific store there called "AS SEEN ON TV" got all those crazy geegaws that never took off in sales that Ed McMann told us we can't live without, or was it with?


My DW just asked me where I want to go on vacation this year. :)


Walgreen's already have them - Topsy Turvy Tomatoes. Comes with a packet of seed too.

MM

It's across the street from CVS! I'll check tomorrow.


I'm getting close to getting some of those Sham-Wows, yes-sir-ee. That Jason fella hawking them on TV is better than Billy Mays.
MM

Give me Billy to hawk something. That ear thing Jason wears, drives me crazy! Jason is hawking a new veg chopper (which I got already years ago) and he has that ear thing again.

I do admit that I am getting tired of BM though.

[dragonfly]

I'm getting close to getting some of those Sham-Wows, yes-sir-ee. That Jason fella hawking them on TV is better than Billy Mays. :D

MM

:D Oh my. No single human has a voice more irritating to me than Billy Mays.

[CentralPAguy]

Believe it or not -- My one friend and myself are planning to do this this coming year using the 5 gallon bucket method -- For the past several years, I have watched my tomatoes grow beautiful and then in late summer, the plants are getting a virus or something that causes spots on the leaves on the bottom, which eventually encompasses the whole plant and the end result is that I have tomato plants without leaves.

I have been told that the fungus/virus is splashing onto the plant from my soil when it rains -- So this year, I am going to try something different and try growing them away from this problem.

Our goal was to also maximize the growing space by growing multiple types of vegetables in the same space. I am looking at planting peas and hang the buckets from a homemade contraption over the peas. My thoughts are that by the time I harvest the tomatoes, I will have already picked the peas.

We were also looking at growing herbs at the top of the bucket. I am really looking forward to this summer to see what kind of success occurs.

[MapMan]

That ear thing Jason wears, drives me crazy!

That's his gimmick - without that ear thing, he wouldn't garner as much attention. ;)

MM

[MapMan]

:D Oh my. No single human has a voice more irritating to me than Billy Mays.

"BILLY MAYS HERE" I have to turn the volume way down when his commercials come on! But, he's a great shill (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081802508.html).

MM

[Hambone]

"BILLY MAYS HERE" I have to turn the volume way down when his commercials come on! But, he's a great shill (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081802508.html).

MM

Just when I thought they couldn't possibly come up with a new reality show. Pitchmen!

[MapMan]

Just when I thought they couldn't possibly come up with a new reality show. Pitchmen!

Yeah, the article was from last August, and it said Pitchman would premiere in the fall, so I don't know if it survived the exec approval. But, yeah - can you imagine a whole show dedicated to BILLY MAYS? :applause:

MM

[dragonfly]

But, yeah - can you imagine a whole show dedicated to BILLY MAYS? :applause:

MM

To me, that would be the equivalent of torture.;) Just put me in a room where I have to listen to him, and I will admit to anything.:D

[dcross]

:D Oh my. No single human has a voice more irritating to me than Billy Mays.

Tony Little!

[Hambone]

I have seen that all over tv too. They talked me into the Snuggie. They almost had me on the Sham-Wow. They are not getting me on this! Or if I just wait a couple more weeks, CVS will have it. Free freight too!


Walgreen's already have them - Topsy Turvy Tomatoes. Comes with a packet of seed too.

MM


Well….They suckered me in. I was grocery shopping Saturday. I saw it and told my self don’t get it. I passed it up. Then, there I was at the checkout. Sure enough the Topsy Turvy is staring me in the face again. I couldn’t pass it up. It’s hanging on my back patio.

[dragonfly]

Well….They suckered me in.

Next time I want to sell something, I'm calling you first.:D

[Hambone]

Next time I want to sell something, I'm calling you first.:D

There is a pretty good chance I would buy it. :D

[Hambone]

I'm getting close to getting some of those Sham-Wows, yes-sir-ee. That Jason fella hawking them on TV is better than Billy Mays. :D

MM


This kind of gives a new meaning to the slap/chop he is hawking.


http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0327092sham1.html