Has anyone out there seen the wonderful advertisement on TV for growing tomatoes hanging upside down? I looked at the price of each and decided I couldn't afford to buy 6 or 7. I would love to know if someone has an idea for making your own hanging tomato growers. Thank you!
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Pattie from Bridgton, ME
I used to do these in coffee cans. Cut both ends off a coffee can. Cut an X into the plastic lid. Put the plant through the lid (carefully) and snap the lid on the bottom. Fill the can from the other end with potting soil. Punch holes through the edge of the open end, and use cord or wire to create a hanger.
Hang up and watch them grow. (04/11/2008)
I was planning on using a five gallon bucket, drilling a hole in the bottom about 2 inches in diameter; then lining the bottom with a landscaping fabric scrap. I will cut an "x" in the fabric to stick the plant starter through, then hold the bucket up and fill it with garden and potting soil. I might plant a few small flowers in the top for fun.
The biggest consideration for mine will be to hang it on something sturdy enough for the soil/water/plant. If I can come up with a good hanger, I was thinking I might try another kind of plant, too. Still thinking on that.
I was also thinking it might be fun to do a "tomato tree" like at Epcot, if I find a seedling that is really leggy. I will plant it and train it up and up, nipping off any side shoots, until it gets about four feet tall, then train it over a gridwork. Smaller than Disney's; but hey, I am not a professional! (04/11/2008)
By Jill
I got an advertisement for a gardening magazine showing tomatoes growing out of the bottom of a cat litter plastic tub so I guess you could use anything as long as it was strong enough to hold up to the weight of the plant and water. (04/11/2008)
By Judi
Try using a coconut lined hanging basket. I read this somewhere and am going to give it a try. Good luck! (04/14/2008)
By Barbara
My son just sent me a photo of how he is growing a couple of tomato plants on his patio. You water and fertilize from the top. See photo. (04/14/2008)
By Lula
I made them out of five gallon buckets and it worked really well. (04/17/2008)
I am in the same situation I bought 8 tomato plants and 8 pepper plants. I've decided to get milk jugs, cut only a small part of the top off leaving the handle, and cut a hole in the bottom, I'll cut some newspaper to fit in th bottom, slit it so I can put the tomato plant in the bottom, and a pepper plant in the top. now where to hang them? Oh and I will use a good brand of potting soil that will retain moisture. (05/03/2008)
By Sharon
Yes, if you look on website, you will find you can create your own baskets from a typical cocoa liner one. Just cut an x in the bottom of the basket and push your tomato through the hole upside down, fill the top with dirt. WalMart has doubles for 4 bucks. I'm trying it this year, I'll let you know what happens.
email me stu30kat AT msn.com and I'll let you know. (05/04/2008)
By Kaite
Here is a picture of one of my tomato plants in a gallon milk jug. I have a squash plant in top of this container, and plan to let it grow over the top of my trellis!, I also have bell pepper plants, marigolds, and an eggplant plant! I am enjoying my hanging garden sooo much, I added more. lol
Sharon (05/31/2008)
By Sharon
I made a trellis out of PVC piping for the plants to hang from since I didn't have anything for them to hang from and even added hummingbird feeders. The squash will grow across the top of the trellis! (05/31/2008)
By Sharon
I don't have a picture, but I made my own hanging planter using a 5-gallon bucket. Most of these buckets already have a circle on the bottom (about 2 inches diameter) which you would cut out. The bucket gets filled with dirt and a tomato seedling planted in the hole in the bottom. I placed a coffee filter around the base of the seedling and before I added the dirt so it didn't slip out of the hole.
I particularly like this method for a couple reasons. First, the bucket already has a big handle to hang it. Second, if you are growing it indoors and want to make sure bugs aren't living in the dirt, you can just keep the lid on. I drilled a small hole in the lid to water the tomato but kept that hole taped over. Finally, to enhance your planter and get the most out of it, you can plant herbs or other flowers on the top of the bucket instead of placing the lid on top. (08/25/2008)
By Sully
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