Upside Down Tomato Planter

Ever seen one of these sold on TV? The Topsey Turvey upside down tomato planter experienced a high amount of popularity for a couple of years. A great innovation for growing fresh produce at home from seed. The reason why these specialized planters work so well is the vertical inversion of the plant allows roots to grow upward to the soil surface. This creates ease of access for water contact with the roots facilitating better fuller, faster, plant growth.

 

For those who enjoy a fun home project this style of planter can be made DIY style with a few easy to find items. All it takes is a medium sized planter pot with a hanger attachment. For those who like to upcycle try using a gallon milk/water bottle or 2 liter soda bottle or even a common cleaning bucket with a hole cut through the bottom. Here is how to make a hanging tomato planter.

Materials:

Scissors/Exacto knife
Hanging Planter or 1 Gallon milk bottle or 2 Liter Soda bottle or household bucket or planter pot
Sponge square or cardboard square
Potting soil
Preferred Tomato Seeds
Seed starter pots
Sterile seed starting mix

Start with leafy seedlings at least 6 inches in height which are ready to be transplanted into larger pots. For more  info on growing tomato seedlings from scratch watch this video from Jeremiah Johnson YouTube Channel here.

Prepare the planter pot. If using a recycled bottle use an exacto knife or scissors to cut off the bottom. If using a bucket cut a small hole in the center of the bottom of the bucket.

Take a square sponge and cut a small hole in the middle with enough space to allow the seedlings leaves through.

Take the tomato seedling turn it upside down and push the seedling stem through the sponge hole until it is stopped by the base of the seedling.

Place the sponge and seedling through the planter pot drainage hole, or bottle’s mouth.

Now the pot or bottle should have the seedling leaves sticking out of the bottom with the square of cardboard preventing the seedling from falling through.

Add potting soil to the planter pot and fill near the top.

Hang planter pot on a hook from the ceiling or a rafter or from a rack placed at least 5 feet above the ground.

This homemade inverted planter can be used to grow a wide range of vegetables like bell peppers, and eggplant. What’s more the top of the planter can be used to grow other foods like herbs and leafy greens. Best of all there are no weeds to burden the growth of the plants.

Keep this brief guide handy to get started growing some home grown produce and start slashing those grocery bills.