Upside-Down Tomatoes / Peppers

[Garry2009]

Hello all:

Has anyone here had experience with growing tomatoes & peppers upside down? I live in a condo where there's no ground for a garden, but I have 3 covered terraces facing due-east. So it'll have to be pots, and I'm going to try something I've never tried before...growing some things upside down. I've read numerous articles on it, and they all declare (with pictures) overwhelming success...so I'm gonna give it a whirl. My seedlings are already underway (in the furnace room with a grow-light...sigh) -- Beedsteak tomatoes, Green Bell and Sweet Banana peppers.

My questions are:
(1) The Beefsteak tomatoes are kinda heavy when full grown; do I need to do something the make sure they don't "fall off" the vines? They don't fall off normal plants (well, most don't), but stilll...there's just something that bugs me with that planter that'll be swinging in the breeze.
2. I'm using Vigoro All Purpose Plant Food: After I transplant into the kooky trapeze planter, how often should I use the "feed"?
3. I've seen where some folks plant things (herbs, spices, etc) on TOP of the planter...does (or can) this alter the taste of the tomatoes? Or maybe...could certain things alter the taste more than other things?

Anyway, that's it for now...any advice on this daffy new process would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Garry

[tomatodude]

Before you start to grow tomatoes or peppers, how much sun does your east facing terrace get? Anything less than 5-6 hours of full sunlight won't do.
Yes Beefsteaks are a big tomato..typically tomatoes don't fall of the vine till they are ripe..a strong breeze may make them fall off sooner than expected.
Companion planting does not affect the taste of tomatoes....

[cynthia_h]

There was a fairly long (2 page) thread on Growing Tomatoes Upside-Down last summer. Maybe some of the advice will be helpful (some of the experienced gardeners who posted then haven't posted in a while, so last year's thread will give you additional input from folks who aren't here right now):

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/v ... hp?t=77675

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[Garry2009]

Thanks for the responses:

Cynthia...thanks much for the link to that old thread, I'll definitely read it.

Tomatodude: Thanks for the comments; you supported my concerns that maybe the Beefsteak is too heavy for something like that. Yeah, we get 5-6 hours of sun, no trouble with that. But we also get plenty of wind (the hous is right on the shore of a lake).

So I think I'll adjust my plans a little: I'll do ONE plant upside-down, just to see how it works out, and the rest in pots. Same with the peppers.

Thanks again, folks.
Garry

[elevenplants]

Garry, I am enclosing a picture of a tomato plant that I am growing upside down in a 3 liter coke bottle, I found the directions for making it online but am having difficulty locating the site...I will find it, tho! Anyway, I put this plant in when it was just tiny, and it has outstripped all the others from it's 'litter'...unfortunately I am inpatient and didn't think it completely through, because the plant I chose is a Brandywine...and they get big! We will see, however. I'm going to make a couple more for some of my smaller varieties, as well. Basically what you do is cut off the bottom, firm it up with duct tape around the cut end, punch holes in, rope through the holes and voila, you've got a planter.

Here's the picture:
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Rebecca

[elevenplants]

Found that link!

Rebecca

[applestar]

elvenpants This is terrific! I just sowed seeds from some organic grape tomatoes that tasted so yummy I had to try growing it. Tomato package was labeled Sugar Plum Grape Tomato, and a quick search revealed that it IS a real variety, but with a rather long maturing date of 102 days.

I think this one will be perfect for the upside-down soda bottle (or maybe a gallon/2 gallon jug?) Maybe it'll grow faster like yours. Also, it's indeterminate, which should mean I'll be able to keep pruning it and, hopefully, bring it inside in the fall.

Thanks for the link!

[elevenplants]

Y/W, applestar. I have the Black Cherry variety going and that's one I'm going to try next. And I think you're right about the pruning, that's kinda my plan too. Wouldn't it be great to extend the growing season that way??

Let me know how yours progresses.

"Elvenpants"

[Garry2009]

Hi Rebecca:

Hey, that's a great idea for a planter! I had originally planned to buy the "Topsy Turvy" thing, but I'm discovering that just about anything sturdy enough will do the job. As with you, my concern is weight: My seedlings are Beefsteak, and I'm kinda thinking they may be too heavy for an upside-down planter. I'm gonna try one of the plants that way, though. As you say...we'll have to wait and see if it works or if the tomatoes fall off prematurely.

Thanks for the picture, and good luck with everything!

Garry

[elevenplants]

Garry, a couple of days ago I put together two more upside down planters, and this time, I put a Paste tomato plant in one and a Black Cherry in the other. Sometime today I will post pics of those two. They have already grown noticeably just in that short length of time! I also had my husband fix me a 5 gallon pot, it is ready for planting now, and as soon as the weather warms back up after the cold snap coming this next week, I will put either a Russian Black or a Bloody Butcher into it and see what happens there. I just love to experiment! Another good reason to grow from seed.

Rebecca

[Garry2009]

Hi Rebecca:

WHOA! Sounds like you are WAY more advanced at this than me. I've pretty much decided that I'm gonna do one called the "Husky Cherry Red" upside-down...a healthy-looking seedling I picked up at Home Depot yesterday. Common sense tells me that a hanging vine, swaying in the local breeze, just isn't going to support a dozen Beefsteak tomatoes weighing maybe a pound or so each. So the Beefsteaks will go in regular planters, with support cages. Speaking of planters: A friend gave me a half dozen of those 5-gallon paint pails yesterday, so my "Cheapskate" reputation is still intact!

Yeah, I agree with you about starting ffrom seed; I think it's far more rewarding. I also have some green Bell peppers and some sweet Banana peppers that have just broken through the soil.

Good luck with everything, and thanks for the message. Do you plan to show a few pictures when things get further underway?

Later,
Garry

[elevenplants]

I am actually posting pics of my two newest that I mentioned in my last post. Here, without further ado, the Paste and the Black Cherry....





I will post pics as we go with these two and my other, bigger one. Also the 5 gallon pot planter once I get it started.

I don't know about more advanced than you, but I'm probably a dang sight more impatient! lol

Let's see your pictures too. And everybodys.

Rebecca

[verdeman]

I tried the topsy turvy planter last year and it did remarkably well even with the wind we get here. The only inconvenience was the water leaking out the bottom onto the patio. The tomato plant did not produce as much fruit as my container plantings, but still did a pretty good job.

Dennis

[Garry2009]

Hi Rebecca:
Thanks for the pictures; it looks like those plants are doing beautifully! I'm a little curious about the 3-liter Coke bottles...That's gonna be enough soil for the plants, huh? As for pictures of my things, it's still a little early for that. My seedlings are still about 3" or so high. But they're coming along nicely, though! About every other watering, I use a mild solution of Vigoro All Purpose Plant Food.

Dennis: Thanks for the reply. I read a posting on the Internet that said something like, "Don't believe the Topsy Turvy commercials!"...and the guy had the same complaint: His plant looked pretty and grew well, but didn't produce a whole lot of tomatoes. But in fairness, that could be attributed to soil condition, watering, exposure to sun, temperature, and a host of other reasons. Oh well, huh?


Thanks to all,
Garry

[elevenplants]

Garry, we will find out whether or not there is enough dirt capacity in the bottles to handle these plants...I am skeptical myself, but as I said, when you grow from seed, you have lots of 'free' plants to experiment with. And experimenting is one of my favorite parts of gardening! I have higher hopes for my 5 gallon bucket planter, which I will plant on the next good planting day and post pics. Here in Northeast Alabama, we have one more night of bone-chilling temps and then (hopefully!), winter will be gone for another year and we can get on with it!!!

Rebecca